At least 16 learners lost their lives after a fire broke out at Utimishi Academy in Gilgil subcounty, Nakuru County, where seventy-nine others sustained injuries during the tragedy.
Authorities confirmed that the sixteen were among the 200 learners at a dormitory that caught fire earlier in the morning at around 12:45 am, although security agencies were yet to establish the cause of the inferno.
Senior government officials including Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and his education counterpart Julius Ogamba visited the school where an emergency response team was dispatched to contain the situation.
Earlier, the government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura described the incident as devastating and conveyed the government’s condolences to the affected families, teachers, students and the entire school community.
“The government has received with deep shock and profound sadness reports of a tragic fire incident at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, in which several students are feared to have lost their lives while others sustained injuries,” said Mwaura.
He said emergency response teams drawn from the National Police Service, Kenya Defence Forces, County Disaster Units, medical personnel and fire response teams were immediately deployed to contain the situation and offer assistance.
According to the spokesperson, injured students are receiving treatment at nearby health facilities as authorities continue efforts to account for all learners and guarantee their safety.
“The government wishes to assure parents and the country that every available resource is being deployed to manage the situation swiftly and professionally,” he stated.
Mwaura added that government officials were already on the ground coordinating rescue operations and supporting affected families.
He urged members of the public to remain calm and refrain from circulating unverified information or disturbing images on social media, warning that such actions could cause further trauma to families affected by the tragedy.
“The government urges members of the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information or disturbing images on social media, as this could cause further trauma to the affected families while authorities continue with rescue operations and investigations,” he said.
The spokesperson noted that the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, together with other relevant agencies, had launched investigations into the cause of the fire and were working jointly to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“At this difficult hour, we stand united as a nation in solidarity with the students, teachers and families affected by this tragedy,” Mwaura said.
He assured Kenyans that further updates would be communicated through official government channels as more verified information becomes available.
The incident has sparked concern among parents and education stakeholders over safety standards in learning institutions, with authorities expected to provide more details once investigations are complete.
by Anita kariuki
