Deadly School Fire in Kenya Leaves Dozens Feared Dead BODY: Nairobi, Kenya – May 28, 2026 – A devastating fire at the Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, Kenya, has left at least 16 students feared dead and many others injured.
The fire, which reportedly erupted in one of the school’s dormitories during the early hours of Thursday morning, has triggered a massive search and rescue operation involving firefighters, police, and medical personnel. Emergency services were notified around 3:30 am, with the Kenya Red Cross confirming the incident and deploying emergency teams immediately. Parents and onlookers gathered outside the school, anxiously awaiting news of their children.
Local authorities have confirmed the number of fatalities and the injured, but details about the condition of the injured remain unclear.
The exact number of casualties is yet to be established as rescue operations and headcounts continue. This tragic incident has reignited concerns about the safety of boarding schools in Kenya, which has seen a spate of school fires in recent years. Eastleigh Voice reported 107 fire incidents in schools over the past year, with the majority occurring in dormitories and affecting 239 schools since the beginning of 2024.
Experts and officials have cited overcrowding and inadequate safety measures as contributing factors to the frequency of school fires in Kenya.
A commission investigating a previous deadly fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri county found the school was overcrowded and in violation of safety standards, resulting in the loss of 21 lives. Calls have been made for the government to enhance safety regulations for boarding schools to prevent such tragedies. Kibera Member of Parliament Peter Orero emphasized the need for essential safety measures, including the installation of fire extinguishers, in a statement published by The Star.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
