Koome urges review of school safety standards after tragic Utumishi Girls fire
“I call on all relevant duty bearers to undertake a comprehensive review of school safety standards, emergency preparedness systems, infrastructure, and risk management measures to protect learners.”..
✨ Key Highlights
Following a devastating fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil that resulted in 16 student fatalities, Chief Justice Martha Koome has called for a thorough review of school safety standards.
- A total of 16 lives were lost in the fire.
- Chief Justice Martha Koome has urged relevant duty bearers to conduct a comprehensive review.
- Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba cited non-compliance with safety regulations, including an overcrowded dormitory and a locked exit, as contributing factors to the tragedy.
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Detectives Detain Over 10 Students Over Utumishi Girls' Fire Incident - May 2026
Police in Kenya have detained over 10 students from Utumishi Girls Academy following a deadly dormitory fire that tragically killed 16 learners and injured 79 others. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has dissolved the Board of Management of Utumishi Girls Academy and ordered disciplinary action against the principal. Eght students subsequently arrested in connection with the suspected arson attack. Chief Justice Martha Koome has called for a thorough review of school safety standards following the tragedy. Meanwhile, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna plans to revive a Senate probe into the crisis of overcrowded and deteriorating infrastructure in public secondary schools. Authorities are utilizing DNA analysis to identify the victims, with some student bodies burned beyond recognition.
