A fire broke out around 12:45 a.m. Thursday in a second-floor dorm at Utumishi Girls Academy Senior School in Gilgil, Nakuru County, killing at least 16 students and injuring 79 others from grades 10, Form 3, and Form 4. Firefighters and security teams contained the blaze by 3 a.m., with most injured students now discharged or stable, though identification of bodies continues. The school is closed for investigation into the unknown cause, as officials urge against speculation and multi-agency teams provide support via hotline 1199. President Ruto and leaders offered condolences, while public anger highlights repeated safety concerns like locked doors seen in past Kenyan school fires.
