In brief
A deadly fire at Utumishi Girls' School in Gilgil killed 16 students and injured dozens more. Eight suspects, all between 15 and 18, have been arrested and prosecutors plan to charge them with 16 counts of murder. Investigators identified them as key players in planning the arson, which involved burning mattresses near a locked exit. The case highlights rising safety concerns and arson incidents in Kenyan boarding schools.
Kenyan prosecutors are preparing to indict eight pupils for the murder of their schoolmates after a suspect arson attack last month devastated Utumishi Girls' School in Gilgil. Sixteen girls aged 15‑18 lost their lives and dozens were injured when fire erupted on the dormitory's upper floor, causing 202 students to flee through a single, jammed doorway.
Police arrested the eight students, who authorities say may have fanned the blaze by setting mattresses on fire near an exit, creating a deadly trap.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) confirmed that it has authorized charges against the suspects, each facing 16 counts of murder. The charges will be formally presented in court after investigators review evidence, including CCTV footage and witness statements.
The tragedy has drawn attention to widespread violations of safety protocols in Kenyan boarding schools, with overcrowding and locked exits cited as critical factors that worsened the fire’s impact. Education Minister Julius Ogamba warned that failures such as these would face stringent penalties.
Kenya’s recent history of school fires shows a pattern of arson linked to student grievances, and the current case underscores the urgent need for improved fire safety and accountability in educational institutions.
