Kenyan prosecutors have approved murder charges against eight students accused of involvement in a deadly dormitory fire that claimed the lives of 16 students at Utumishi Girls’ School last month.
The tragic incident occurred on May 28 at the boarding school in Gilgil, approximately 120 kilometres northwest of Nairobi. The fire swept through a dormitory housing more than 200 students, leaving 16 dead and dozens injured.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), investigations found sufficient evidence to prosecute the students, who are aged between 15 and 18.
“Upon careful assessment of the evidence, the Director of Public Prosecutions has approved charges against the implicated students,” the prosecution service said in a statement.
Students linked to alleged arson attack
Police investigations suggest the fire may have been deliberately started after mattresses were allegedly set alight near one of the dormitory exits.
Authorities said interviews with students and staff, together with forensic analysis of CCTV footage, identified eight students as persons of interest in the planning and execution of the incident.
The suspects remain in custody and are expected to appear in court on Friday to face 16 counts of murder.
Safety failures worsened tragedy
The blaze rapidly engulfed the upper floor of the dormitory, which contained 135 bunk beds and accommodated 202 students.
Investigators found that students were forced to escape through a single doorway after an emergency exit reportedly failed to open during the fire.
Kenya’s Education Minister, Julius Ogamba, said preliminary findings revealed several safety violations at the school, including overcrowded dormitories and a locked emergency exit.
Concerns over rising school arson cases
The ODPP expressed concern about an increase in arson incidents and other criminal acts in educational institutions across Kenya, warning that those responsible would face the full force of the law.
Kenya has experienced several deadly school fires over the years, many of which have been linked to arson by students protesting disciplinary measures or poor living conditions.
In 2024, at least 21 people died in another dormitory fire in central Kenya, renewing calls for stricter enforcement of safety standards in boarding schools.
Education authorities and safety advocates have repeatedly highlighted overcrowding, inadequate emergency exits and poor compliance with fire safety regulations as major factors contributing to the high death toll in such incidents.
