Today, Thursday, 28th May 2026, Kenyans woke up to the horrifying news that a fire had broken out in one of Kenya’s boarding schools and claimed students’ lives.
It has been a dark day today as Kenyans tried to come to terms with the horrifying news that at least 10 students had perished in a dormitory fire. The fire was said to have begun sometime after midnight at Utumishi Girls Academy, and firefighting teams only managed to put it out completely by 3 a.m.
Anxious Parents Rushed to the School
Parents thronged the school in the morning, amid much suspense as police tried to control the growing crowd. Utumishi Girls Academy is in Gilgil in Nakuru County, around 120 km from the capital city, Nairobi.
There was immense anxiety among the parents in the early hours of the morning, as they were unable to get specific information regarding their children. Apparently, the police wanted to ensure the dead bodies were removed first, the injured students rushed to the hospital, and the scene was secured for investigations.
The Dead and the Injured
Police confirmed removing 10 dead bodies from the scene in the morning. As the morning wore on, it was reported that the number of fatalities had reached 15. In the early hours of the morning, St. Joseph, where most of the injured students were taken, confirmed having received 69 students.
The hospital superintendent said that one of the injured had been taken by her parents for treatment elsewhere. Meanwhile, the hospital was treating 7 students for fractures and 61 for fire-related issues.
Mid-morning Brief
However, just before 11:30 a.m., the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Education, Julius Ogamba, gave an update on the Utumishi school situation. He reported that 16 students in total had so far succumbed to injuries.
He told the media that the school has an enrollment of 815 students, but at the time of the accident, the number was 808. He said that only one dormitory was affected by the fire, and it housed around 200 students.
He put the number of injured students at 79, explaining that 71 had been treated and discharged. He also said that 7 students were still hospitalized.
The Cabinet Secretary for Interior, Kipchumba Murkomen, addressed the media after the Education CS spoke. He thanked the rescue teams for turning up swiftly to help. He said that several teams had participated in putting out the fire and evacuating the injured.
He specifically thanked the Kenya Red Cross, the Fire Brigade, the KDF, and other parties that helped out during those dire moments.
He also consoled all the affected parents and asked the country to stand with them in this time of grief. He noted that most of the students admitted to the Utumishi Academy are children of Kenya Police Officers.
As investigations into the cause of the fire continue, Murkomen asked people not to speculate. In any case, nothing seems to indicate whether the fire was a result of an electric fault, some form of arson, or anything of the sort. Fortunately, alcohol and suchlike substances are out of bounds in Kenyan schools.
Utumishi Girls Academy Helpline: 1199
Meanwhile, a help number has been given. It is 1199. The number is meant to serve all those who need counseling.
Also, the parents who took away their students have been asked to use the line to provide updates.
The entire country wishes a quick recovery to the injured students and offers prayers to all affected parents and families. The country also condoles with the parents whose children died in the fire.