On the night of 28 May 2026, one of the deadliest school fires in Kenya’s recent history occurred at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, claiming the lives of 16 students and leaving 79 others injured.

The fire broke out shortly after midnight in the Meline Waithera Block dormitory, which housed approximately 220 students from Grade 10, Form Three, and Form Four. Thick smoke and rapidly spreading flames engulfed sections of the building, blocking the main exits and trapping many students inside. In desperate attempts to escape, some students jumped from upper-floor windows, sustaining fractures and other serious injuries.

Emergency responders, police officers, and local residents rushed to the school as rescue operations continued through the night. While many students were rescued, sixteen lost their lives. Post-mortem examinations later indicated that most victims died from smoke inhalation, while others suffered fatal burn injuries.

The tragedy prompted national mourning and renewed debate over school safety, emergency preparedness, and boarding school infrastructure. The Ministry of Education temporarily closed the school to allow forensic investigations, counselling services, and support for affected families and students.

Investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) concluded that the fire was deliberately started. Detectives stated that CCTV footage and witness accounts formed part of the evidence supporting allegations that the blaze had been intentionally ignited inside the dormitory. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions subsequently approved murder charges against several students.

Initially, nine students were taken into custody during the investigations. Following further inquiries, prosecutors withdrew charges against one student, leaving eight accused persons to face criminal proceedings. Owing to security concerns and the sensitivity of the case, the trial was transferred from the Naivasha Law Courts to the High Court in Kibera, Nairobi. The court ordered psychiatric evaluations and age assessments of the accused before plea-taking could proceed.

After approximately one month of closure, Utumishi Girls Academy reopened following police investigations, counselling programmes, and the identification of the victims.

The Utumishi Girls Academy fire stands as one of the most tragic incidents in Nakuru County’s educational history. Beyond the profound loss of life, it prompted renewed national conversations about student welfare, school security, mental health, dormitory safety, and the prevention of school fires in Kenya.