A devastating fire at a boarding school in Kenya has claimed the lives of an estimated 15 students, police have confirmed. The blaze tore through a dormitory at Utumishi Girls' Academy Senior School in Nakuru county during the early hours of the morning.
Incident Details
The fire broke out at approximately 1:00 a.m. local time, according to radio station Capital FM, which cited Samuel Ndanyi, the regional police commander. Emergency rescue teams have been scouring the charred remains of the dormitory in search of survivors and victims. The number of injured students remains unclear as of now.
County police official Masoud Mwinyi described the scene as "a distressing and saddening situation" as he addressed distraught parents gathered outside the school. Firefighters and police officers worked tirelessly to control the flames and evacuate other students from the premises. The cause of the fire is not yet known, and investigations are ongoing.
Official Response
A statement from the Kenya Police Service confirmed that Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat is at the scene, leading rescue and emergency response efforts. The statement read: "Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat is at Utumishi Girls Senior School in Gilgil, Nakuru County, where police are leading rescue and emergency response efforts following a tragic dormitory fire in which a number of students have unfortunately lost their lives."
Several other students sustained injuries and are currently receiving medical treatment. The National Police Service, in coordination with the Kenya Defence Forces, Ministry of Education, Interior Ministry, Nakuru County Government, the NGAO, Kenya Redcross, and other emergency teams, continues search, rescue, and support operations. Authorities are working to account for all students and provide assistance to affected families during this difficult time.
Previous Tragedy
This incident echoes a similar tragedy in 2024, when a fire killed 21 students at a primary boarding school in nearby Nyeri county. The recurrence of such events has raised concerns about fire safety measures in educational institutions across the country.
This is a developing story, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
