The fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, on
May 28, 2026, claimed 16 lives and injured 79, with CCTV footage showing the
suspects igniting the blaze before fleeing.
Locked doors against policy and overcrowding worsened the
tragedy, prompting the arrest of seven girls facing possible life sentences and
the dissolution of the school's board.
As families await DNA identification for burials, discussions
focus on overdue safety fixes like alarms, exits, and better enforcement in
Kenya's boarding schools.
