Utumishi Girls’ Academy fire tragedy: 8 students arrested over deadly dormitory blaze
By Sharon Atieno, May 29, 2026Eight students have been arrested in connection with the deadly dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls’ Academy that claimed the lives of 16 learners and left dozens injured, as detectives intensify investigations into one of the country’s worst school fire tragedies in recent years.
In a statement shared on the DCI Facebook account on Friday, May 29, 2026, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations said preliminary investigations had identified eight students as persons of interest linked to the planning and execution of the suspected arson attack.
“Investigators have conducted extensive interviews with students, teaching staff and other witnesses, while forensic teams carry out a detailed review of available CCTV footage,” the DCI stated.
The agency confirmed that the eight girls were currently in police custody as detectives continue recording statements and analysing evidence to reconstruct the sequence of events and establish the motive behind the fire.
“Investigators have conducted extensive interviews with students, teaching staff, and other witnesses, while forensic teams carry out a detailed review of available CCTV footage. Preliminary investigations have identified eight students as persons of interest in connection with the planning and execution of the suspected arson attack. The eight girls have since been arrested and are currently in police custody,” the statement added.
CCTV footage under review
According to investigators, forensic experts are reviewing CCTV footage and examining scenes around the dormitory to determine how the fire started and spread through the school compound.
“Detectives continue to record statements and analyse all available evidence to reconstruct the sequence of events, establish the full circumstances of the incident, and determine the motive,” the statement added.
The latest development comes as families across the country continue mourning the students who died in the inferno that shocked the nation and reignited debate over safety standards in Kenyan boarding schools.
Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika said both the national and county governments were working together to support affected families and students.
“It is a very sad morning. We are working together, both the national government and the county government, to stand in the gap,” Kihika said during a press briefing on Thursday, May 28, 2026.
Pressure mounts over school safety
Kihika said counselling services had already been provided to survivors and grieving families, while medical teams continued treating injured students admitted to the hospital.
She also confirmed that investigators had been tasked with establishing the exact cause of the blaze to prevent similar tragedies in learning institutions.
The tragedy has triggered renewed pressure on education authorities to strengthen dormitory safety standards, emergency preparedness and fire response systems in schools across the country.