Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migosi Ogamba has confirmed the indefinite closure of Utumishi Girls Academy following a devastating fire tragedy that has left at least 16 students dead, with 71 of 79 injured students reportedly discharged so far.

Speaking on the incident on Thursday, May 28, 2026, Ogamba said that the students will be released at midday, as the government has moved swiftly to secure the institution, and investigations continue into the cause of the fire.

“We will also be releasing learners with their parents who are here during the course of the day. The cause of the fire is yet to be known, with investigations ongoing,” Ogamba announced.

He announced that the government had activated hotline number 1199 for parents to report information regarding students who may have left the school with relatives or guardians after the incident.

“Investigations are ongoing, and there is a hotline number 1199 to which we ask the parents to keep reporting, especially those who left with their kids when they came earlier, and that hotline number will also be available for counselling,” he said.

Murkomen commits to thorough probe

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has assured Kenyans that a comprehensive investigation will be conducted into the tragic fire incident at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, which has left the nation in mourning, with the deaths of 16 students and scores of others injured.

Murkomen confirmed that emergency response and investigative agencies have already been deployed to the scene, led by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), crime scene investigators, and officers from the Government Chemist.

The interior CS has emphasised that all necessary forensic processes, including DNA testing, will be undertaken to establish the exact cause of the fire and accurately identify victims.

“This is a serious tragedy for our country, and the investigations into this tragedy will be thorough. The DCI is here, crime scene investigators are already on site, and officers from the government chemist are also present. All processes will be undertaken, including DNA tests,” Murkomen said.

“Even as we release the parents whose students have not been injured but have been affected psychologically, the hotline number has been given, which is 1199, basically for people to call for help.

“We are working with the Kenya Red Cross, which is part of the national disaster management team, so that even as the children are at home, we will make sure they can receive counselling services and psychosocial assistance wherever they may be,” Murkomen added.