In the early hours of Thursday morning, tragedy struck Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, when a fire engulfed one of the school’s dormitories. The incident, reported at around 3:30 a.m., has left several students feared dead and many others injured, sending shockwaves through the community and raising urgent questions about school safety.
According to reports, the fire broke out while students were asleep, spreading rapidly through the dormitory. Rescue teams, including ambulance crews from E-Plus Medical Services and psychosocial support personnel from the Kenya Red Cross, were quickly deployed to the scene. Their immediate focus was on evacuating students, providing medical care, and offering emotional support to survivors and families.
Rift Valley Regional Commander Masoud Munyi confirmed that police and detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) are conducting a thorough headcount to establish the exact number of casualties. He emphasized that only parents are being allowed into the school compound during the ongoing investigations. “Your pain is our pain, and this is a very sad incident,” Munyi stated, reflecting the gravity of the tragedy.
Injured students were rushed to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Gilgil, where medical teams are attending to them. Meanwhile, investigators are expected to begin probing the cause of the fire once the immediate crisis is contained.
