At least 16 students were killed after a devastating overnight fire tore through a dormitory at Utumishi Girls’ Academy Senior School in Gilgil, Kenya, authorities said Thursday, in one of the country’s deadliest school tragedies in recent years.
Several other students were injured in the blaze, while police and rescue teams continued searching for students believed to have fled during the chaos as the fire spread through the dormitory.
Witnesses described scenes of panic as students rushed out of the burning building, with emergency responders battling flames late into the night. Survivors were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment, while families gathered outside the school awaiting news about their children.
Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the fire, and investigations are ongoing.
The tragedy has once again raised concerns over student safety standards in Kenyan boarding schools, where overcrowded dormitories, poor emergency preparedness, and inadequate fire safety measures have repeatedly been cited following similar incidents.
Kenya has experienced several deadly school fires over the years. In 2024, at least 21 students were killed in a dormitory fire in Nyeri County, renewing national debate over school infrastructure and enforcement of safety regulations.
Government officials expressed condolences to the families affected and pledged a full investigation into the latest incident.
The fire at Utumishi Girls’ Academy is likely to intensify calls for stricter inspections of boarding schools across the country, with education and safety advocates urging authorities to improve fire prevention systems, emergency exits, and disaster response training in schools.
