By James Murimi - Reporter
Kenya, May 28, 2026 - The government on Thursday confirmed that at least 16 students died after a devastating fire tore through a dormitory at Utumishi Girls’ Senior Secondary School in Gilgil, Nakuru County, in one of the country’s deadliest school tragedies in recent years.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said 79 students were injured after the pre-dawn inferno engulfed the packed Meline Waithera dormitory block that housed more than 200 learners.
“Sixteen fatalities have been reported and their identities will be revealed by our investigators,” Ogamba said after visiting the school.
“It is a very unfortunate incident and we are firmly supporting the school and the families,” he added.
Ogamba said the school has a total population of 815 students, with 808 present at the time of the fire.
“Seventy-nine were injured and treated in hospital while seven are still hospitalized,” he said.
The Cabinet Secretary said emergency response teams managed to put out the fire but not before extensive damage had been caused.
“The DCI is processing the scene and investigations are ongoing. We wish those injured a quick recovery,” he said, adding that the cause of the blaze had not been established.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen appealed for calm and urged Kenyans to avoid speculation as investigations continue.
“We stand with the families. The students need psychosocial support,” Murkomen said.
“As leaders, we discussed at length on whether to reveal the number of fatalities. But after the numbers were aired in the media, we opted to issue this press briefing,” he added.
Murkomen said the government was working to contact affected families and provide counseling support.
“We thought it was only fair to confirm that 16 persons had already perished. We are trying to reach as many parents as possible and ensure they get counseling sessions,” he said.
Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika said county and national government agencies were jointly coordinating rescue, treatment and counseling efforts.
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“We as county government are working together with the national government regarding this disaster. Our teams are working together,” Kihika said.
“Counseling is going on even as we pray for those being treated in hospital. We stand in solidarity with the school and parents to ensure that we get to the bottom of this matter,” she added.
Gilgil MP Martha Wangari commended emergency teams for their swift response as investigators began the difficult process of identifying victims through DNA sampling.
“We thank the response team that acted swiftly trying to put off the inferno,” Wangari said.
“The DCI team is sampling DNA to reveal identities. We don't want to speculate much on this matter. We are allowing our investigative agencies to deal with this matter,” she added.
According to a police report filed at Gilgil Police Station, the fire was reported at around 4.30am by school principal Joycelene Muraguri.
Police officers who rushed to the institution found the dormitory already engulfed in flames as terrified students screamed for help.
“One dormitory christened Meline Waithera Block, housing 220 mixed students of Grade 10, Form Three and Form Four, was already on fire,” the report stated.
The Sub-County Police Commander led officers from Gilgil Police Station and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to the scene as firefighters and emergency responders battled the flames.
“Joint efforts by fire brigades from Naivasha, Kenya Defence Forces, water bowsers from the Anti-Stock Theft Unit, Kenya Forest Service and National Youth Service managed to contain the fire,” the police report said.
The injured students were rushed to Gilgil Sub-County Hospital and St Mark’s Hospital for treatment as Crime Scene Investigation officers from Nakuru processed the scene.
Police said property of unknown value was extensively destroyed in the inferno as investigations into the cause of the fire intensified.
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