Isaac Rutto urges strict safety compliance in schools following Utumishi Girls tragedy
By Emmanuel Rono, May 31, 2026Bomet’s first Governor, Isaac Rutto, has called on learning institutions across the country to strictly adhere to established safety protocols in a bid to prevent avoidable disasters such as fires and other emergencies in schools.
In a statement on Saturday May 30, 2026, Rutto emphasised the need for regular inspections of classrooms and dormitories, proper maintenance of school systems, and consistent training of both learners and staff on emergency preparedness.
These remarks come following the deadly fire at Utumishi Girls’ Academy that claimed the lives of 16 students.
According to Rutto, schools must take deliberate steps to strengthen disaster response mechanisms, including conducting regular fire drills, ensuring clear and well-communicated evacuation procedures, and maintaining functional fire alarms and accessible firefighting equipment.
“It is important for all learning institutions in the country to strictly adhere to the established safety protocols and regularly take significant steps, among them inspecting classrooms and dormitories, ensuring that systems are properly maintained, learners and staff are taken through emergency preparedness to reduce risks and prevent avoidable disasters should they strike,” Rutto stated.
Emergency response system
He further called on schools to continuously strengthen emergency response systems through coordinated efforts involving administrators, teachers, learners, parents and other stakeholders.
“We urge learning institutions to adhere to the recommendations made by the ministry on disaster management and also continuously strengthen emergency response systems through regular fire drills, clear and well communicated evacuation procedures, functional fire alarms, accessible firefighting equipment, among other emergency response measures to prevent or reduce the impact of such tragedies,” Rutto said.
Possible cause of fire
Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has also linked the deadly blaze to possible negligence by the school administration.
Speaking during the inaugural graduation ceremony of Belgut Technical Training Institute in Kericho County on Friday, May 29, 2026, Murkomen revealed that preliminary investigations had uncovered potential breaches of safety procedures, including locked emergency exits.
“There is a standard safety procedure that the school was to adhere to. One side of the dormitory with an emergency exit door had been locked, and it’s where we lost 10 students,” Murkomen said.
The CS noted that the locked emergency exit may have significantly contributed to the loss of life during the incident. He emphasised that schools are required to maintain accessible escape routes and comply with established safety regulations at all times.
Murkomen added that investigations remain ongoing and assured the public that individuals found responsible would face legal consequences.
He further stated that the Ministry of Education would take administrative action against the school management once the investigations are concluded.
Moreover, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has already initiated disciplinary proceedings against the school principal and several teachers as authorities seek to determine whether institutional failures contributed to the disaster.