The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) has raised concerns about the safety of learners in boarding schools across the country, questioning how prepared institutions are to handle fires following recent tragic incidents.

Speaking on Thursday, May 28, 2026, while reading the party’s official statement, DCP Acting Secretary General and Nyandarua Senator Joe Methu noted that the growing number of school fire outbreaks has exposed possible gaps in safety preparedness, including inadequate emergency response systems, poor infrastructure, and a lack of regular safety drills in some institutions.

Methu highlighted that this latest disaster is part of a painful history of school fires, citing past tragedies, including the recent Hillside Endarasha Academy fire incident that left 21 dead and several others injured.

Proximity to security agencies

The proximity of Utumishi Academy to security agencies has further fueled the outrage.

“How safe are our schools?” Methu questioned. “If Utumishi Academy could lose 16 girls, yet we have security agencies within a stone’s throw. How safe are our kids in the other parts of the country?”

Methu further questioned the government about the investigations into the 2024 fire incident at Hillside Endarasha Academy, noting that Kenyans have not been given any information about it.

“Since the fire tragedy in Endarasha in 2024, we have never been told how 21 babies died. What country is this that we are living in?” Methu questioned.

Govt negligence

Methu accused the government of negligence, incompetence and failure in disaster preparedness and response.

Methu said the country has witnessed repeated school tragedies over the years without meaningful reforms being implemented to protect learners in boarding institutions.

“We have lost too many students for a long time, ranging from St Kizito in the 1990s, Janguri Boys, Hillside International Academy and countless others,” Methu said.