Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen have announced a review of compliance with the national school safety manual following the deadly dormitory fire at Utumishi Academy Senior School in Gilgil, Nakuru County.
Speaking during a briefing on Thursday, May 28, Ogamba said investigations into the tragedy were still ongoing and cautioned against speculation over the cause of the fire.
“We do not yet know the cause of the fire and it would be premature to speculate before investigations are completed,” Ogamba said.
Probe to Assess Compliance With Safety Guidelines
The Education CS said the government would examine whether the school adhered to the national safety standards outlined in the school safety manual.
According to Ogamba, all learning institutions are required to comply with the guidelines designed to protect learners and improve emergency preparedness in schools.
“From a policy perspective, we already have a school safety manual that institutions are expected to follow. Investigations will determine whether those guidelines were observed in this particular case,” he said.
Ogamba noted that the government had previously closed hundreds of schools that failed to meet required safety standards following earlier nationwide inspections.
“At one point, about 350 schools were shut down for failing to comply with the specifications contained in the safety manual,” he added.
He said safety audits in schools would continue across the country as the government seeks to strengthen learner protection measures.
Fire Claimed 16 Lives
The government confirmed that 16 students died in the fire, which broke out at around 12:45am in a second-floor dormitory at the school.
The dormitory was extensively damaged as emergency response teams battled the blaze overnight.
Ogamba said the school has a student population of 815 girls, although only 808 were present at the institution at the time of the incident.
According to the Education Ministry, 79 students sustained injuries during the fire and were rushed to various hospitals for treatment.
So far, 71 students have been discharged, seven remain admitted while one learner was picked up by a parent.
Murkomen Urges Public to Avoid Speculation
Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen appealed to Kenyans to allow investigators enough time to establish the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
He commended the multi-agency emergency teams, including the county security apparatus and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), for responding swiftly and containing the fire by around 3am.
Murkomen said the government remained committed to supporting affected families and ensuring accountability once investigations are completed.
Nakuru County Pledges Support
Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika said county authorities were working closely with national government agencies to assist the affected students and families.
The tragedy has once again reignited concerns over safety standards in Kenyan boarding schools, particularly around dormitory design, emergency exits and fire preparedness measures.
