By Brian Iha
May 28, 2026 | Interior Cabinet Secretary
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has confirmed that 16 students have died following a devastating dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, in a tragedy that has left the nation in shock and mourning.
Speaking on the incident, Murkomen said a total of 79 students were injured in the inferno and rushed to hospital. Out of those, 71 have since been discharged, while 7 remain admitted in stable condition. One student was picked up by a parent.
According to the statement, the fire broke out at around 12:45 a.m. in a dormitory located on the second floor of the school while 808 students were in session at the institution.
Emergency response teams, including the county security team, Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU), Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), and the Nakuru County Fire Brigade, responded swiftly and managed to contain the blaze by around 3:00 a.m.
Despite the rapid response, the fire proved fatal, claiming the lives of 16 students. Identification of the bodies is currently ongoing, with support from the Ministry of Health and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Murkomen confirmed that investigations have already been launched to determine the cause of the fire, with multi-agency teams combing through the scene to establish what triggered the deadly incident.
Students whose parents or guardians have already arrived at the school have since been released to return home, while a support desk has been set up at the institution to assist affected families.
Authorities have also established a hotline number 1199 to provide information and support to parents seeking updates about their children.
A multi-agency crisis response team remains on the ground, comprising officials from the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, the County Government of Nakuru, and the Kenya Red Cross.
Murkomen expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the deceased students and wished a quick recovery to those injured, describing the incident as a national tragedy that has deeply affected the country.
Further updates are expected as investigations continue into the cause of the deadly fire.
