Former Senate Minority Leader Samuel Poghisio has called for urgent reforms in school safety systems following the Utumishi Girls Academy dormitory fire in Gilgil, Nakuru County, which claimed 16 lives and left several students injured.

Speaking during an interview on May 28, Poghisio extended condolences to families affected by the tragedy, noting that some parents were still uncertain about the status of their children.

“There is so much money in government budgets that goes to waste, and this should be the time to standardise school safety protocols and ensure they are implemented uniformly across the country,” he said.

The fire broke out around 1 a.m. at the school dormitory and affected 132 students. Emergency teams from multiple agencies responded to the scene, including the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Kenya Red Cross, and medical personnel.

Government pathologist Titus Ngulungu confirmed that 16 bodies were recovered from the debris and transferred to Naivasha Mortuary for postmortem examinations and DNA testing to assist in identification due to severe burns.

Most injured students were evacuated to St. Joseph’s Mission Hospital in Gilgil, with several already discharged after treatment.

Calls for accountability and reforms

Poghisio criticised delays in the initial response and said the tragedy reflected a pattern of lessons not being fully implemented from past incidents.

“We seem to learn very little from our own experiences. We’ve had these tragedies before,” he said. “Somebody must take responsibility… Some heads should roll at some point.”

He further urged authorities to move away from reactive responses and focus on enforcing uniform safety standards across all schools to restore public confidence in the education system.

National debate on school safety standards

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba visited the school and directed investigations into the cause of the fire. Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja described the incident as a national tragedy.

Education officials ordered the indefinite closure of Utumishi Girls Academy, with students released to their families as investigations continue. The tragedy has intensified calls for improved fire safety infrastructure in schools, including emergency exits, firefighting equipment, and trained response teams, alongside stronger enforcement of safety regulations nationwide.