Kenya School Fire Kills 16 Students

May 28, 2026

At least 16 students have lost their lives following a devastating fire outbreak at a boarding school in Gilgil, about 120 kilometres north-west of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi.

The tragic incident occurred at Utumishi Girls Academy in the early hours of Thursday while students were asleep in their dormitories, according to Kenyan authorities.

Several other students sustained injuries during the incident, with emergency teams rushing victims to nearby hospitals for treatment. Kenya’s Education Minister, Julius Ogamba, who visited the scene, confirmed that 71 injured students were later discharged while seven others remained admitted for further medical care.

Authorities say the cause of the fire is yet to be established as investigations continue.

Speaking at the school premises, Education Minister Julius Ogamba disclosed that the fire started on the first floor of one of the dormitories and rapidly spread through the building.

“The response teams managed to put out the fire by about 03:00, but by then the damage had already been done,” he stated.

He explained that the affected dormitory was completely destroyed by the blaze, leaving behind scenes of grief and destruction.

According to officials, search-and-rescue operations continued throughout Thursday morning as police and emergency personnel worked to account for all students.

The Kenya Red Cross also confirmed that emergency responders had been deployed to provide assistance and psychological support to students, parents and staff members affected by the tragedy.

Minister Ogamba further announced that the school would begin releasing students to their parents and guardians as investigations into the incident progress.

“We are working closely with all agencies involved to ensure every student is accounted for and families receive the needed support during this difficult moment,” he said.

Kenya’s Interior Minister, Kipchumba Murkomen, who also visited the school, extended condolences to families who lost their children in the disaster.

“It’s a very anxious moment and even as we account for the 16 so far identified as having passed on, I want to ask the people of Kenya that together we stand with the families… in prayer, in support,” he said.

“I ask everyone to be patient and avoid speculation,” the minister added.

The atmosphere around the school remained tense as anxious parents and relatives gathered outside the institution searching for information about their children.

Police commander Masoud Mwinyi described the situation as both painful and distressing.

“It is a sad and distressing situation,” he told reporters.

“We are praying for parents who have not yet met their children. We ask Kenyans to pray for us and remain calm as the cause of the fire is investigated,” he added.

Family members who arrived at the school shortly after news of the fire broke recounted moments of confusion, panic and fear.

Wambui Nderitu, whose cousin is a student at the school, said many parents were left emotionally shaken as authorities tried to identify victims and survivors.

“When we arrived at the school we were told to queue. Most of us were so worried because we had heard some students had died and others were injured and in hospital,” she explained.

She revealed that several students suffered injuries while attempting to escape from the burning dormitory.

“Some of those at the top floor had to jump out, that’s why they are injured,” Nderitu said.

According to her, her cousin survived the fire but sustained serious injuries during the escape.

“I found her… she is fine… but she has a broken leg,” she added.

The latest tragedy has once again raised concerns over student safety and fire preparedness in Kenyan boarding schools, as the country continues to witness recurring incidents of dormitory fires over the years.

Kenya has experienced several deadly school fire incidents, some linked to arson attacks by students.

One of the country’s deadliest school fire disasters occurred in 2001 in Machakos County, south-east of Nairobi, where 67 students died after a dormitory was allegedly set ablaze by fellow students.

In another tragic incident in 2024, at least 21 people lost their lives in a dormitory fire in central Kenya.

The repeated incidents have continued to put pressure on education authorities and school administrators to strengthen safety measures in schools, especially in boarding facilities where hundreds of students reside.

Data released by Kenya’s Ministry of Education in November 2021 revealed that there were 126 cases of school arson recorded between January and November 2020 alone.

The ministry disclosed the figures in response to concerns raised by a parliamentary committee investigating increasing cases of school fires and destruction of school property across the country.

Research cited by Reuters in 2018 also indicated that at least 60 cases of arson attacks were recorded in schools within a single year, highlighting the growing challenge facing Kenya’s education sector.

As investigations continue into Thursday’s tragedy, authorities are expected to examine possible safety lapses, electrical faults or other factors that may have contributed to the fire outbreak.

Meanwhile, messages of condolence continue to pour in from across Kenya, with many citizens expressing grief over the loss of young lives.

The tragedy has once again reopened national conversations about the safety conditions in boarding schools and the urgent need for improved emergency response systems to prevent future disasters.

For the affected families, however, the pain remains overwhelming as they mourn children whose lives were cut short in a disaster that has shaken the entire country.