A tragic fire has killed at least 16 students at a girls’ boarding school in Gilgil, according to government officials.
The fire broke out shortly after midnight at Utumishi Girls’ Academy Senior School in west-central Kenya and burned for more than two hours before being contained, Education Minister Julius Migos confirmed.
Authorities said 79 other students were injured, with 71 already discharged from hospital after receiving treatment.
Cause still under investigation
Officials said the cause of the fire has not yet been established. Investigations are ongoing as authorities work to determine what triggered the blaze.
Footage from local television showed burnt dormitory sections, broken window panes, and smoke-damaged walls as families gathered outside the school seeking information about missing students.
A witness, whose child escaped, described how the fire spread rapidly through the dormitory, trapping some students and preventing escape routes, while others managed to flee.
Recurrent school fire concerns in Kenya
School fires remain a recurring concern in Kenya, with more than 100 incidents reported in 2024 alone, according to government data. Many cases have previously been linked to student unrest, poor conditions, or suspected arson.
In 2024, a similar fire at a primary boarding school in Nyeri County killed 21 students, while one of the deadliest incidents in recent history occurred in 2001 at Kyanguli Secondary School near Nairobi, where 67 students lost their lives in an arson attack.
Authorities say efforts are ongoing to strengthen safety in boarding schools as investigations into the Gilgil tragedy continue
