Kenya mourns schoolgirls killed in suspected dorm arson attack

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Nairobi: Kenya is in deep mourning following a devastating dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil that claimed the lives of 16 schoolgirls and left 79 others injured. The midnight blaze tore through the crowded building, trapping students inside and prompting immediate state outrage over severe safety violations, including a locked exit door.

The national tragedy quickly shifted into a criminal investigation as police arrested eight female students suspected of planning and executing the arson attack to deliberately fabricate unrest.

In response to the catastrophic failure to comply with safety manual guidelines, Education Minister Julius Ogamba dissolved the school’s board of management and initiated disciplinary action against the principal and teachers.

As grieving families await DNA results to identify their children, the incident has renewed national focus on the persistent and dangerous safety hazards plaguing crowded boarding schools across East Africa.