Salasya seeks nationwide inspection of boarding schools following Utumishi fire
By Faith Lagat, May 29, 2026Mumias East MP Peter Salasya has called for urgent nationwide inspections of boarding schools following the deadly dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls’ Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, that claimed 16 lives and left dozens of students injured.
In a statement shared on X on Friday, May 29, 2026, Salasya said preliminary information surrounding the tragedy pointed to serious gaps in school safety systems that require immediate government intervention.
“Looking at the Utumishi tragic incident, the information we’re getting is that our girls faced locked doors and grills on windows, missing keys, overcrowding, and inadequate fire safety measures, turning panic and smoke into preventable deaths,” he said.
The legislator urged the Ministry of Education to review boarding school operations and enforce stricter safety regulations across the country.
Calls for stricter safety standards
Salasya called for immediate audits of all boarding schools to assess compliance with fire safety measures, including emergency exits, outward-opening doors, fire extinguishers and regular evacuation drills.
He also demanded accountability from school administrators and education officials responsible for enforcing safety standards.
The Utumishi Girls’ Academy fire broke out in the early hours of May 28 in the Meline Waithera Dormitory, a two-storey building that housed more than 200 students.
Government pathologist Dr. Titus Ngulungu confirmed that 16 bodies were recovered from the burnt structure and transferred to Naivasha Sub-County Mortuary for postmortem examinations and DNA analysis.
Authorities said the fire caused extensive destruction in the dormitory, with several students sustaining injuries during the evacuation.
Political leaders demand accountability
The tragedy has triggered renewed debate over school safety and emergency preparedness in Kenyan boarding institutions.
The People’s Liberation Party (PLP), led by Martha Karua, described the incident as a result of weak enforcement of safety standards and failure to implement lessons from previous school fire tragedies.
“This tragedy is not merely an accident; it is a national failure born out of systemic negligence, weak enforcement of safety standards, and a government culture that reacts only after lives have been lost,” the party said in a statement.
The party called for full medical support and psychological counselling for affected students and families.
Investigations underway
Preliminary investigations have pointed to suspected arson, with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations confirming the arrest of eight students linked to the incident.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said officers from the DCI, Government Chemist and other investigative agencies had been deployed to establish the cause of the fire.
Emergency response teams from the National Police Service, Kenya Defence Forces, Kenya Red Cross and Nakuru County Government also participated in rescue operations.
The incident has renewed pressure on the government to strengthen safety compliance in schools and implement long-term reforms aimed at preventing future tragedies.