Kenyan prosecutors have approved murder charges against several students accused of involvement in a deadly fire at a girls’ boarding school that claimed the lives of 16 students and injured dozens more.
The tragic incident occurred on May 28 at Utumishi Girls’ School in Gilgil, approximately 120 kilometers northwest of Nairobi. According to investigators, the fire broke out in a dormitory housing more than 200 students after mattresses were allegedly set ablaze near an exit.
Authorities arrested eight students following the incident. Police investigations, including interviews with students and staff as well as forensic analysis of CCTV footage, identified the suspects as persons of interest in the planning and execution of the fire.
In a statement, Kenya’s Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) confirmed that sufficient evidence had been gathered to support criminal charges.
“Upon careful assessment of the evidence, the Director of Public Prosecutions has approved charges against the implicated students,” the statement said.
The suspects are expected to face 16 counts of murder, corresponding to the number of students who lost their lives in the blaze. They are scheduled to appear before a court in Naivasha.
Investigators revealed that the fire rapidly engulfed the upper floor of a dormitory containing 135 bunk beds. Students were forced to escape through a single doorway after an emergency exit reportedly failed to open, contributing to the high death toll.
Kenya’s Education Minister, Julius Ogamba, said preliminary findings pointed to serious safety violations at the school, including overcrowded dormitories and a locked emergency exit.
The ODPP also expressed concern over a growing number of arson-related incidents in schools across the country and warned that those responsible would face the full force of the law.
Kenya has experienced several deadly school fires in recent years. In 2024, at least 21 people were killed in a dormitory fire in central Kenya. Many past incidents have been linked to arson by students protesting disciplinary actions or poor living conditions, while others were caused by accidents.
Authorities say the latest case highlights the urgent need for stricter enforcement of safety regulations in schools, including proper dormitory occupancy limits and accessible emergency exits.