Investigations into the deadly fire tragedy at Utumishi Girls Senior School in Gilgil have intensified after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) deployed a specialised team to establish the cause of the blaze that killed 16 students.
In a statement issued on Friday, May 29, the DCI confirmed that rescue and emergency operations had officially ended, paving the way for homicide detectives, forensic experts, and crime scene investigators to take over the case.
The fire, which broke out at the Meline Waithera Dormitory, left the upper section of the building extensively damaged and triggered national mourning.
Investigators Focus on Cause of the Fire
According to the DCI, forensic teams are currently analysing evidence collected from the scene, including electrical installations, burn patterns, and possible ignition sources.
The agency said the dormitory’s upper floor sustained the heaviest destruction, while the ground floor remained largely unaffected.
“The affected upper floor contained twelve cubicles with approximately 135 double-decker beds,” the statement noted.
Authorities added that specialists are working to determine whether accelerants were used and to reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the tragedy.
The 16 bodies recovered from the scene were moved to the Naivasha Sub-County Referral Hospital mortuary, where postmortem examinations and identification procedures are ongoing.
Eight Students Arrested in Suspected Arson Investigation
In a major development, detectives revealed that eight students had been identified as persons of interest in what investigators are treating as a suspected arson attack.
The students have since been taken into police custody as investigations continue.
The DCI said detectives have already interviewed students, teachers, and other witnesses, while forensic officers continue reviewing CCTV footage obtained from the school.
“Crime scene processing and documentation remain ongoing as investigators seek to establish the exact cause and circumstances surrounding the fire,” the agency stated.
The revelation has raised fresh concerns over safety and mental health management in boarding schools across the country.
Tragedy Deepens After Parent Dies in Road Crash
The grief surrounding the tragedy worsened after a parent travelling to the school died in a road accident along the Nakuru-Gilgil Highway.
Police confirmed that the woman, whose daughter survived the dormitory fire, died on the spot after the vehicle she was travelling in collided head-on with another car near Kariandusi.
Her husband sustained serious injuries and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at Gilgil Sub-County Hospital.
Gilgil Sub-County Police Commander Wiston Mwakio confirmed the incident, noting that the couple had been rushing to the school following news of the fire.
Calls for School Safety Reforms
The Utumishi Girls tragedy has renewed national debate over safety standards in boarding schools, with leaders and education stakeholders calling for stricter compliance with school safety guidelines.
Government officials have already indicated that investigations will also examine whether the institution adhered to the national school safety manual and fire preparedness regulations.
The deadly incident now stands among the country’s worst school fire tragedies in recent years, as investigators continue piecing together what caused the devastating blaze.
