Official in Kenya says 16 students killed in an overnight fire at a girls’ school
Police said 79 students were injured as rescue teams searched the burned dormitory and authorities investigated whether fire-safety rules were followed.
- On Thursday, May 28, 2026, a fire broke out at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, killing at least 16 students and injuring 79 others, according to government officials.
- President William Ruto declared three days of mourning while Education Minister Julius Ogamba ordered an urgent investigation into whether the school's fire safety manual was followed.
- Kenya Red Cross teams joined police in rescue operations as senior police commander Masoud Mwinyi described the situation as a "distressing and saddening situation" while distraught parents gathered outside seeking information.
- Eyewitnesses alleged one dormitory door remained closed during evacuation, forcing students to jump from windows; survivors reported this contributed significantly to the high casualty count.
- Kenya has experienced recurring deadly school fires, including a 2024 blaze at Hillside Endarasha Academy that killed 21 students, prompting ongoing government audits of nationwide school safety standards.
145 Articles
145 Articles
Fire at girls school in Kenya kills at least 16 students, minister says
Parents and guardians stand at Utumishi Girls Academy following the deadly fire in Nakuru, north of the Kenyan capital Nairobi on May 28, 2026. (Simon Maina/AFP via Getty Images) (LONDON) — At least 16 students died in an overnight fire at a boarding school for girls in central Kenya, a government minister said Thursday. Education Minister Julius Ogamba said in a statement posted to X that a “regrettable fire tragedy befell Utumishi Girls Academ…
The Daily Advance
Fire rips through a dormitory at a girls' school in Kenya, killing at least 16 students
A government official in Kenya says 16 students died in an overnight fire that started in the dormitory of a girls’ boarding school. Education Minister Julius Ogamba said Thursday that 79 others were injured at the Utumishi Girls School, which…
A fire that broke out in a girls' boarding school in Kenya has killed 16 girls and left dozens more in need of medical attention.
Cyprus Mail
philenews.comKenyan girls’ school fire kills 16 students, injures 79
A fire tore through a dormitory at a girls’ secondary school in a town in Kenya’s Rift Valley overnight, killing 16 students, the government said on Thursday. The fire broke out just after midnight at the Utumishi Girls’ Academy Senior School in Gilgil in west-central Kenya and burned for more than two hours, Education Minister Julius Migos told reporters. He said 79 other students were injured, although 71 of them had already been discharged fr…
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