16 students killed, scores injured in Kenya school dormitory fire

Africa, Education

NAKURU, Kenya (NPA) — At least 16 students have been confirmed dead while more than 70 others sustained injuries following a devastating fire outbreak at Utumishi Girls Senior School in Gilgil, Nakuru County, Kenya.

The tragic incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday when a dormitory at the school was engulfed by fire, trapping several students inside.

Witnesses said the blaze reportedly broke out around 1:00 a.m., forcing many students to jump from balconies in desperate attempts to escape.

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Several survivors sustained fractures, burns, and soft tissue injuries during the incident.

Parents and eyewitnesses alleged that blocked emergency exits and barred windows worsened the tragedy by limiting escape routes for students trapped inside the burning building.

Emergency responders, including personnel from the Kenya Red Cross, rushed to the scene to assist with evacuation and rescue operations.

The injured students were taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Gilgil and other nearby medical facilities for treatment, while psychosocial support teams were deployed to assist traumatised survivors and families.

Following the incident, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, Kipchumba Murkomen, led a government delegation to the school to console grieving families and members of the school community.

“We express our heartfelt condolences to the families of the girls we lost in this painful incident and wish a quick recovery to the injured,” Murkomen said during the visit.

The Interior Cabinet Secretary stated that the government would issue a comprehensive statement on the tragedy after preliminary investigations into the cause of the fire are concluded.

Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Education, Julius Ogamba, also visited the school alongside other senior government officials.

President William Ruto mourned the victims, describing the incident as a “painful national tragedy” and assuring affected families of government support.

Meanwhile, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has launched an investigation into the cause of the fire.

The incident has once again raised concerns over safety standards in Kenyan boarding schools, particularly issues relating to poor infrastructure, inadequate emergency exits, and overcrowded dormitories.

Kenya has witnessed several deadly school fire disasters over the years, including the 2001 Kyanguli Secondary School tragedy in which 67 students lost their lives.

Safety experts and education advocates have renewed calls for stricter enforcement of school safety regulations to prevent future tragedies.