At least 15 students have died and 74 others have been injured in a devastating fire at Utumishi Girls School, a boarding school located in Nakuru County, central Kenya. The blaze erupted in a dormitory at approximately 1am on Thursday, rapidly spreading and engulfing the Meline Waithera Block, which housed 220 pupils, predominantly aged between 15 and 17.
Emergency Response and Casualties
Police and firefighters were able to contain the fire, but the cause has not yet been established. Government officials have launched an investigation into the incident. Distraught parents have gathered at the cordoned-off school, with some witnessing students jumping from upper floors in a desperate attempt to escape the flames.
Recurring Issue of School Fires
The incident highlights a recurring problem of school fires in Kenya. Opposition leader Kalonzo Musyoka has called for urgent government action to protect students in boarding schools, emphasizing the need for enhanced safety measures and stricter regulations to prevent such tragedies in the future.
