Ndegwa Njiru calls for fire equipment near schools after Utumishi fatal blaze
By Faith Lagat, May 28, 2026Advocate Ndegwa Njiru has called for urgent deployment of firefighting equipment near schools following a deadly dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, which left 16 students dead and 132 others affected.
In a post on X on May 28, Njiru extended condolences to the affected families while raising concerns over school safety and emergency preparedness.
“My heart felt condolences to the families of the students who perished in the inferno. But even as we condole with the families, we must ask ourselves the hard question: Who is in charge of our school’s safety? Why is it so hard to have firefighting equipment designated near schools?” he stated.
The fire reportedly broke out at around 1 a.m. in the school’s girls’ dormitory, prompting a large-scale emergency response and rescue operation.
Emergency response and casualties
Kenya Red Cross confirmed that 132 students were affected by the blaze, with several evacuated to nearby medical facilities including St. Joseph’s Mission Hospital in Gilgil. Others sustained injuries of varying severity, while early reports indicated that some students were still unaccounted for during the initial response.
Inspector-General of the National Police Service Douglas Kanja described the incident as a national tragedy and confirmed that investigations had been launched.
“These young souls were the hope and future of our nation, and their passing leaves an irreplaceable void in our hearts and in our society,” he said. He added that specialized units, including counselling teams, had been deployed to assist affected families.
Interior Ministry response and investigations
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, who visited the scene alongside Education Cabinet Secretary Migos Ogamba, assured families of accountability and a thorough probe into the incident.
“We stand in solemn solidarity with the families who lost their loved ones… We will do everything in our power to ensure that if anyone was responsible for this fire, they are brought to justice,” Murkomen said.
He confirmed that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, crime scene experts, and Government Chemist officers had been deployed to establish the cause of the fire.
Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura urged the public to avoid spreading unverified information and disturbing images, noting that emergency teams from multiple agencies had responded immediately.
The tragedy has renewed national scrutiny on boarding school safety standards, with stakeholders pointing to gaps in fire preparedness, infrastructure, and emergency response systems. Calls have intensified for mandatory installation of fire extinguishers, hydrants, and trained response personnel in schools across the country.