On Friday, Kenyan authorities arrested eight female students suspected of setting a fire in a dormitory at a girls’ boarding school. The blaze resulted in the deaths of 16 students and injured 79 others. According to Kenya’s criminal investigations unit, the students are considered key suspects in planning and conducting the suspected arson attack. Julius Ogamba, Kenya’s education minister, stated that the students might face charges in court by Tuesday.
Investigators have reportedly conducted interviews and examined CCTV footage as part of the ongoing inquiry. They continue to scrutinize evidence related to the fire. The motive behind the alleged arson remains unclear.
The fire started just before 1 a.m. Thursday local time at the Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil. It was brought under control by 3 a.m., according to Mr. Ogamba. The school, located about 75 miles northwest of Nairobi, is operated by Kenya’s police.
“There was congestion in the dormitory, and one exit door was locked, contrary to the prescribed safety requirements,” Mr. Ogamba disclosed.
This tragic incident has reignited worries about fire safety in Kenyan schools. A 2020 government report highlighted the lack of preparedness in most schools for such emergencies. Many institutions did not have functioning fire extinguishers and alarms, despite a national safety manual published in 2008 following a series of school fires.
In 2024, a fire in an elementary school dormitory claimed the lives of 21 children. Kenya’s most lethal fire incident occurred in 2001 when students ignited a fire in a high school in Machakos, southeast of Nairobi, killing 67 students.
Mr. Ogamba announced that two teachers, informed about the suspected arson ahead of time, would face disciplinary measures, and the school’s administration has been disbanded due to inadequate enforcement of safety standards.
Parents present at the scene reported that students had to leap from windows, resulting in head and other injuries. Seven injured students were transported to Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya’s primary medical facility, for advanced care.
On Friday, several parents expressed frustration over the lack of communication from authorities. The previous day, some parents demanded information about their children’s whereabouts. Kenya’s criminal investigations unit stated that autopsies are being conducted at a nearby hospital, where the bodies are to be identified.