Friday, May 29, 2026-Kenyan police have arrested eight students in connection with a deadly dormitory fire that killed at least 16 students and injured dozens more at Utumishi Girls’ Academy Senior School in Gilgil, Nakuru County.
The arrests come as investigators intensify efforts to determine the cause of the blaze, which broke out in the early hours of the morning and rapidly engulfed the sleeping quarters.
Authorities say preliminary findings point to possible arson, with early reports suggesting the fire may have been deliberately set inside the dormitory.
The incident has triggered a wider investigation involving school staff, safety compliance records, and emergency response failures. Officials also confirmed that more than 70 students were injured, many while attempting to escape through locked exits and windows during the chaos.
The tragedy has sparked national outrage and renewed scrutiny of boarding school safety standards in Kenya, where overcrowding and weak enforcement of fire regulations have long been flagged as risks.
Education officials are now under pressure to overhaul dormitory safety protocols, while families demand accountability and faster reforms to prevent another mass casualty incident in schools across the country.
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