16 Students Killed in Kenya Boarding School Fire

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Gilgil: At least 16 students were killed and dozens injured after a fire swept through a girls’ boarding school in central Kenya early Thursday, authorities said.

The blaze broke out at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, around 120km northwest of the capital Nairobi, while students were asleep in their dormitories. Officials said the fire started on the first floor of one of the boarding blocks and quickly spread through the building.

Education Minister Julius Ogamba said emergency teams managed to extinguish the fire by around 3am, but much of the damage had already occurred. The affected dormitory was completely destroyed.

More than 70 students who suffered injuries were treated and later discharged from hospital, while seven remained admitted for further medical care.

Police and rescue workers continued search operations at the school as investigators worked to determine the cause of the fire. The Kenya Red Cross said emergency teams were assisting affected students and families at the scene.

Parents and relatives gathered outside the school throughout the day waiting for information about their children.

Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen expressed condolences to the families of those killed and urged the public to avoid speculation while investigations continue.

Authorities said the dormitory housed around 220 students and the fire began shortly after 1am local time.

Deadly fires have occurred several times in Kenyan boarding schools over the years. Officials and safety experts have often linked the high death tolls in such incidents to overcrowded dormitories, blocked exits and poor enforcement of fire safety rules. Some previous fires were blamed on accidents, while others were linked to arson.