Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has dissolved the Board of Management of Utumishi Girls Academy following a deadly dormitory fire that claimed the lives of 16 students at the Nakuru County school.
In a statement released Friday May 29, 2026, the Ministry of Education said preliminary investigations had established that the tragic blaze was an act of arson and revealed major lapses in school safety compliance.
“At the time of the incident, a total of eight hundred and eight (808) learners were within the school premises. By last evening, all the learners had been accounted for,” the statement said.
16 learners died in the fire, while 79 others sustained injuries of varying degrees.
Ogamba said seven students remain hospitalized as the rest have since been treated and discharged.
He said Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is holding and questioning eight learners identified as persons of interest in the case.
“The investigation will ascertain their individual roles in the planning and execution of this heinous act. Those found culpable will be charged in accordance with the provisions of the Penal Code and other relevant laws,” the statement added.
The bodies of the deceased students were transferred to the Naivasha Sub-County Hospital Mortuary for preservation and DNA identification, with parents and guardians directed to the facility for the process.
The ministry further disclosed that investigations uncovered serious violations of safety regulations at the school, including congestion in the dormitory and a locked exit door during the incident.
“The school did not adhere to the safety requirements as stipulated in the School Safety Manual and the Basic Education Regulations,” the statement said.
“In particular, there was congestion in the dormitory and one exit door was locked, contrary to the prescribed safety requirements.”
Ogamba also revealed that two teachers had prior information about planned unrest among a section of Form Three learners but allegedly failed to take action before the fire broke out.
“Two teachers were informed of planned unrest by a section of Form Three learners. However, the teachers did not take appropriate action before the arson, despite having been informed beforehand,” Ogamba said.
Consequently, the CS announced the dissolution of the school’s Board of Management for failing to ensure compliance with safety regulations.
“The Board of Management of Utumishi Girls Academy has been dissolved for failing to ensure compliance with the School Safety Manual and the Basic Education Regulations,” he stated.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has also been directed to begin disciplinary action against the school principal and the teachers accused of negligence.
“The teachers who failed to take action despite having been informed of the planned unrest will also be subjected to disciplinary proceedings,” the statement added.
Ogamba said investigations were ongoing to determine whether officers from the Ministry of Education and the TSC were also negligent in their duties.
Police said investigations into the tragedy are still underway.
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