CS Ogamba Dissolves Utumishi Girls Board, Orders Action Against Principal Over Deadly Fire Tragedy

CS Ogamba Dissolves Utumishi Girls Board, Orders Action Against Principal Over Deadly Fire Tragedy

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has ordered the immediate dissolution of the Board of Management at Utumishi Girls Academy following the deadly dormitory fire that claimed the lives of 16 students and left dozens injured in one of Kenya’s worst school tragedies in recent years.

The drastic action came after preliminary investigations revealed serious safety violations, alleged negligence by school officials, and ignored warnings about a possible student unrest incident before the fire broke out.

Addressing the press on Friday, May 29, Ogamba disclosed that investigations had uncovered major breaches of the School Safety Manual and Basic Education Regulations at the institution.

Among the concerns raised by the Education Ministry was severe congestion inside the affected dormitory and the locking of one of the emergency exit doors, factors authorities believe significantly contributed to the high number of casualties during the overnight inferno.

“Consequently, 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,” Ogamba announced.

The Cabinet Secretary further directed the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to immediately begin disciplinary proceedings against the school principal over alleged failures in enforcing safety protocols and ensuring proper supervision within the institution.

At the same time, two teachers accused of ignoring prior warnings about a planned unrest by a section of Form Three students will also face disciplinary action.

According to Ogamba, investigations established that the teachers had received information regarding possible disturbances within the school but failed to take appropriate preventive measures before the tragedy occurred.

“Appropriate disciplinary and legal action will be taken against officers found to have been negligent in their duties. We shall provide further information in due course as investigations progress,” the CS stated.

The tragic fire, which occurred in the early hours of Thursday morning, has since been classified by authorities as a suspected arson attack.

Ogamba confirmed that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is currently holding and questioning eight students believed to be linked to the incident.

“The eight students are persons of interest in the investigation. The investigation will ascertain their individual roles in the planning and execution of this heinous act,” he disclosed.

The dormitory blaze triggered scenes of panic and confusion as students attempted to flee from the burning building amid thick smoke and flames.

Emergency response teams, police officers, firefighters, and medics rushed to the institution following distress calls from the school and nearby residents.

Besides the 16 confirmed deaths, authorities revealed that 79 students sustained injuries of varying severity during the tragedy.

According to the Ministry of Education, 71 of the injured learners remain admitted in different hospitals receiving treatment, while several others have since been treated and discharged.

Government pathologists involved in the investigation also revealed that some bodies recovered from the dormitory were burnt beyond recognition, complicating identification efforts for affected families.

The incident has reignited national debate over student safety, mental health concerns, and rising cases of school unrest across the country.

Education stakeholders and parents have increasingly raised concerns over dormitory congestion, inadequate emergency exits, insufficient supervision, and failure by some schools to fully implement fire safety measures.

The Ministry of Education has repeatedly issued directives requiring schools to conduct regular fire drills, maintain functioning emergency exits, and adhere strictly to safety guidelines outlined in the School Safety Manual.

However, several school fires reported in recent years have exposed gaps in compliance and enforcement within some learning institutions.

The Utumishi Girls tragedy has also prompted calls for stronger monitoring systems and accountability mechanisms targeting school administrators and boards of management.

Meanwhile, detectives continue to piece together events leading up to the deadly blaze, including examining claims that some security lights within the school compound were routinely switched off at night.

Forensic experts are also analyzing the fire scene, electrical systems, dormitory access points, and witness accounts as investigations enter a critical phase.

Parents and relatives of the affected students continue to gather at hospitals and the school compound seeking updates on survivors and identification of victims, while counseling teams and psychosocial support officers remain on the ground to support traumatized learners and grieving families.

The government has assured the public that all individuals found culpable, whether through negligence or direct involvement, will face the full force of the law as investigations continue into the heartbreaking tragedy.

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CS Ogamba Dissolves Utumishi Girls Board, Orders Action Against Principal Over Deadly Fire Tragedy