Utumishi Girls Founder Calls for End of Boarding Schools After Deadly Fire Tragedy

Utumishi Girls Founder Calls for End of Boarding Schools After Deadly Fire Tragedy

The founder of Utumishi Girls Senior School, Edward Mbugua, has sparked a national debate on the future of Kenya’s education system after calling for the gradual elimination of boarding schools following the tragic fire that claimed the lives of 16 students at the institution.

Speaking during a requiem mass held in Gilgil on Friday, June 12, Mbugua openly acknowledged failures that may have contributed to the devastating incident and urged the government to rethink the country’s reliance on boarding schools as concerns over student safety continue to grow.

The emotional remarks come at a time when Kenya is witnessing a worrying rise in school fire incidents, prompting renewed scrutiny of infrastructure, student welfare, and safety standards in learning institutions.

“We should have day schools. Those dormitories can be converted to workshops for training,” Mbugua said during the memorial service, drawing attention to what he believes is the need for a fundamental shift in the country’s education model.

His proposal follows one of the deadliest school tragedies in recent years, which has left families grieving and education stakeholders questioning whether existing boarding facilities are adequately equipped to protect learners.

According to Mbugua, improving the quality of day schools across the country would reduce the pressure on parents to send children to boarding institutions located far from their homes. He argued that stronger day schools would not only improve parental involvement but also help address some of the challenges associated with managing large student populations in boarding facilities.

The remarks have reignited a long-running conversation about the role of boarding schools in Kenya’s education sector. While boarding institutions have traditionally been viewed as centres of academic excellence and discipline, critics have increasingly raised concerns about student safety, overcrowding, and recurring unrest.

Government data indicates that Kenya has between 3,000 and 4,000 secondary boarding schools, while the majority of the country’s more than 7,000 secondary schools operate either as day schools or with limited boarding facilities.

Recent statistics released by the Kenya Red Cross paint a troubling picture. The humanitarian organisation reported that at least 47 schools have experienced fire incidents since January 2026. Alarmingly, 16 of those incidents were recorded after the Utumishi Girls tragedy, raising fears that schools across the country may be facing broader safety challenges.

The Red Cross further revealed that 187 people have been treated for injuries related to school fires this year, with 132 of those cases linked directly to the Utumishi Girls incident.

Education stakeholders have also expressed concern over increasing cases of unrest in schools. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos recently disclosed that the Ministry of Education had received reports of unrest from 204 senior schools across the country. Notably, day schools have remained largely unaffected by the disturbances, a factor that has strengthened arguments in favour of expanding day-school education.

In another proposal likely to generate debate, Mbugua called for a review of Kenya’s long-standing practice of separating learners into boys-only and girls-only schools.

“Even at home we don’t separate boys and girls. I recommend they be trained together,” he stated, suggesting that mixed-gender learning environments could better prepare students for life beyond school.

Perhaps the most striking moment of his address came when he accepted responsibility for shortcomings that may have contributed to the tragedy.

“I am to blame for this tragedy. I started the school. The Board of Management is also to blame because they did not complain that they did not have enough facilities to accommodate the students,” Mbugua said.

He further criticised stakeholders for failing to push for expanded infrastructure despite growing student populations.

“I don’t think there is anybody, including MPs, who petitioned the government for time to build more classrooms and facilities,” he added.

Meanwhile, the government has moved to address growing concerns over school safety. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has established an inter-ministerial committee tasked with reviewing cases of unrest and fire incidents in schools and recommending reforms aimed at improving learner safety.

As investigations into the Utumishi Girls fire continue, Mbugua’s remarks are expected to intensify discussions about school safety, infrastructure development, and whether Kenya’s education system should increasingly shift toward a day-school model to prevent future tragedies.

The debate now places policymakers, parents, and education experts at the centre of a critical national conversation on how best to safeguard learners while maintaining quality education standards across the country.

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Utumishi Girls Founder Calls for End of Boarding Schools After Deadly Fire Tragedy