Kenyan prosecutors have approved murder charges against several students accused of involvement in a deadly dormitory fire that claimed the lives of 16 pupils at Utumishi Girls’ School in Gilgil last month.
The fire, which broke out on May 28, swept through a crowded dormitory housing more than 200 students, leaving 16 girls dead and dozens injured.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), investigations conducted by police, including interviews with students and staff as well as forensic analysis of CCTV footage, identified eight students as persons of interest in the planning and execution of the incident.
Authorities alleged that the suspects, aged between 15 and 18, may have started the blaze by setting mattresses on fire near an exit of the dormitory. The students have been in custody since their arrest and are expected to appear before a court in Naivasha.
The ODPP said the suspects would face 16 counts of murder in connection with the tragedy.
The fire engulfed the upper floor of the dormitory, which contained 135 bunk beds and accommodated 202 students. Investigators revealed that many occupants struggled to escape after an emergency exit reportedly failed to open, forcing students to flee through a single doorway.
The prosecution office expressed concern over the increasing number of arson-related incidents in educational institutions across Kenya, warning that anyone found responsible would be held accountable under the law.
Kenya’s Education Minister, Julius Ogamba, disclosed that preliminary findings uncovered several safety violations at the school, including overcrowded dormitories and a locked emergency exit.
School fires have remained a recurring problem in Kenya, with many incidents linked to arson by disgruntled students protesting disciplinary measures or poor living conditions. Poor adherence to safety regulations has also been blamed for the high casualty figures recorded in such tragedies.
The case has reignited concerns about student safety and boarding school conditions across the country as authorities continue investigations into the fatal incident.
