Kenyan Students Face Murder Charges After Deadly Utumishi Girls School Fire

Kenyan prosecutors have announced plans to charge several students with murder following a devastating arson attack at Utumishi Girls' Academy in Gilgil. The fire, which occurred on May 28, 2026, tore through the upper floor of a dormitory housing 202 students, resulting in the deaths of 16 pupils aged between 15 and 18.

Investigators believe the blaze was started by using paraffin and a matchstick to ignite a mattress near a dormitory exit. Following a review of CCTV footage and interviews with staff and students, police identified several pupils as persons of interest. While initial reports mentioned eight arrests, a court in Naivasha recently granted detectives 21 days to hold nine students in a children's home to finalize the investigation.

Beyond the fatalities, the fire left 79 students injured, some of whom were hurt after jumping from the first floor to escape the flames. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) stated that the implicated students will face 16 counts of murder.

Education Minister Julius Ogamba revealed that preliminary findings pointed to severe safety failures at the institution. These included overcrowding in the dormitories and a locked emergency exit door, which forced students to scramble through a single doorway. As a result, the government has dissolved the school's board of management and ordered disciplinary action against the headteacher.

Further accountability is being sought from staff members, as the Education Minister noted that two teachers had been informed of the students' alleged plans but failed to intervene. The government has warned that any personnel found to have neglected their duties will face legal and disciplinary consequences.

This tragedy occurs amid a concerning rise in arson cases within Kenyan learning institutions. Authorities are currently using DNA testing to identify some of the victims whose bodies were charred beyond recognition.