Utumishi School fire: NCIC warns Kenyans against ethnic hate speech
By Aloys Michael, May 29, 2026The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has warned that it is monitoring individuals circulating ethnic hate messages and glorifying the deaths of students who perished in the Utumishi Girls High School fire tragedy.
In a statement on Friday, May 29, 2026, NCIC condemned social media posts that sought to celebrate or justify the deaths of the learners on ethnic grounds, terming the conduct “reprehensible” and contrary to the law.
The Commission said it had taken note of remarks circulating online following the tragedy in which 16 students died while several others sustained injuries.
“It has been brought to our attention that certain remarks, currently circulating on social media, have sought to justify or glorify the loss of these children on account of their ethnicity. This is reprehensible,” the statement read in part.
The Commission has said it would not tolerate hate speech disguised as commentary or online expression, especially at a time when families and the country were mourning.
“No child’s death is cause for celebration. No ethnicity makes any life more or less worthy of grief,” it said.
“Such utterances are not only morally bankrupt but constitute hate speech under the National Cohesion and Integration Act. The Commission will not treat such conduct lightly.”
Moreover, NCIC has said that it is actively monitoring online communications linked to the tragedy and would pursue accountability through legal channels.
“We are monitoring these communications and will pursue accountability through the full force of the law,” he warned.
The Commission joined the nation in mourning the 16 learners who lost their lives in the fire tragedy at the Gilgil-based school, describing the deaths as a painful national loss.
“These were young, promising lives. Their loss is a wound to their families and to the nation. They carried with them the hopes and aspirations of Kenya’s future,” the statement said.
NCIC also wished injured students a quick recovery and called on Kenyans to exercise restraint, compassion and responsibility in public discussions surrounding the tragedy.
The Commission urged leaders, institutions and social media users to avoid speculation and refrain from sharing unverified information, saying such conduct risked deepening pain among grieving families and undermining national healing efforts.
“As a Commission mandated to promote national cohesion, human dignity and social harmony, we call upon all Kenyans to stand in solidarity with the affected families and school community,” the statement read.