Two teachers at Utumishi Girls School in Gilgil were informed of planned unrest by a section of Form Three learners, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has revealed.

In a statement on Friday, May 29, 2026, Ogamba said that the teachers did not take appropriate action before the arson, despite having been informed beforehand.

“Two teachers were informed of planned unrest by a section of Form Three learners,” the statement read in part.

“However, the teachers did not take appropriate action before the arson, despite having been informed beforehand.”

According to Ogamba, preliminary investigations have also established that the tragic fire was an act of arson.

“The Directorate of Criminal Investigations is currently holding and questioning eight learners, who are persons of interest in the investigation. The investigation will ascertain their individual roles in the planning and execution of this heinous act,” he said.

“Those found culpable will be charged in accordance with the provisions of the Penal Code and other relevant laws.”

The CS also said preliminary findings point to breaches of safety requirements at the school, including dormitory overcrowding and a situation in which one exit door was locked, contrary to basic safety standards under the school safety manual and basic education regulations.

According to the CS, the school did not adhere to the safety requirements as stipulated in the School Safety Manual and the Basic Education Regulations.

“In particular, there was congestion in the dormitory, and one exit door was locked, contrary to the prescribed safety requirements,” he said.

The incident left 79 learners injured with varying degrees of severity.

Seven of those injured remain admitted and are receiving treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), while the rest have been treated and discharged.

The bodies of those who died have been transferred to the Naivasha Sub-County Hospital mortuary for preservation and DNA identification.

Authorities have directed parents and guardians to report to the facility for identification and testing purposes. 

“Parents and guardians are therefore being directed to the facility for purposes of the DNA testing,” the CS said.

“Investigations into the cause of the fire and possible lapses in duty of care are ongoing, with authorities saying further action will follow based on the findings.” 

The DCI arrests

Meanwhile, eight students have been arrested in connection with the deadly dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls’ Academy that claimed the lives of 16 learners and left dozens injured, as detectives intensify investigations into one of the country’s worst school fire tragedies in recent years.

In a statement shared on the DCI Facebook account on Friday, May 29, 2026, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations said preliminary investigations had identified eight students as persons of interest linked to the planning and execution of the suspected arson attack.

“Investigators have conducted extensive interviews with students, teaching staff and other witnesses, while forensic teams carry out a detailed review of available CCTV footage,” the DCI stated.

The agency confirmed that the eight girls were currently in police custody as detectives continue recording statements and analysing evidence to reconstruct the sequence of events and establish the motive behind the fire.

“Investigators have conducted extensive interviews with students, teaching staff, and other witnesses, while forensic teams carry out a detailed review of available CCTV footage. Preliminary investigations have identified eight students as persons of interest in connection with the planning and execution of the suspected arson attack. The eight girls have since been arrested and are currently in police custody,” the statement added.

According to investigators, forensic experts are reviewing CCTV footage and examining scenes around the dormitory to determine how the fire started and spread through the school compound.

“Detectives continue to record statements and analyse all available evidence to reconstruct the sequence of events, establish the full circumstances of the incident, and determine the motive,” the statement added.