The night was peaceful to the girls at the Utumishi academy. However, it was shortly disrupted by raging fire which tore through a dormitory at the Senior School in Gilgil, Nakuru County, on the wee hours on Thursday May 28, leaving the school fraternity and Kenyans at large reeling in unimaginable grief.
Confirmed by the Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba, sixteen bright young girls lost their lives in the blaze.
“Before the incident, 815 girls were admitted in school and by the time of incident, seven student were home for various reasons. 79 students who had sustained injuries were rushed to various hospitals, 71 discharged, one picked by the parent and seven were admitted.” He added.
The fire, which broke out around 1 a.m. while the students slept, spread with terrifying speed through the dormitory. Panic filled the darkness as girls scrambled for safety. Some made it out. Too many did not.
The charred dormitory became a reminder of what transpired at night. The grieving families gathered at the school gates painted a picture of pure devastation.
Emergency responders, including teams from the Kenya Red Cross and military ambulances, worked tirelessly through the night, ferrying the injured to St. Joseph’s Hospital.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen was among the first senior government officials on the scene, visibly moved as he arrived to coordinate response efforts alongside DCI Boss Mohamed Amin and other leaders.
CS Murkomen urged the public to be patient so as to avoid speculation of the cause of fire tragedy at Utumishi Academy.
He confirms that most of the children who school at Utumishi belong to officers serving in the National Police Service.
President William Ruto conveyed his deepest condolences, describing the incident as a painful national tragedy. “Our hearts and prayers are with the families who have lost their beloved daughters,” he said, urging immediate focus on rescue, treatment, and support for the affected. “Poleni sana,” he added.
For the families, this is not just news marks the end of bright futures that were only beginning but now they have been erased forever.
