UTUMISHI GIRLS FIRE: DCI Detains EIGHT Students In Arson Probe
On Thursday, at least eight teenagers were arrested in connection with an arson at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, that claimed the lives of 16 people.
The pupils were detained for questioning after being tracked down to their homes and returned to the school. Others who had not yet left the area were tracked down and detained, according to authorities.
The gang was among 30 students who were first tracked down and returned to school by detectives probing a tragic fire in a dormitory as individuals of interest.
Detectives believe the fire at the school was caused by arsonists.
A team pursuing the matter said they narrowed down to some students behind the incident after a long day’s interrogation of at least 50 people, including guards, students and management.
The students are believed to have escaped the scene as their colleagues burnt down the dormitory. The motive is yet to be known.
The parents have been camping outside Utumishi Girls Academy since morning on May 29, 2026.
Eight students have been detained by police over the fire tragedy which killed 16 students#HomeOfHardTruths pic.twitter.com/C6HrFgM5ce— Radio Generation (@RadioGenKe) May 29, 2026
The parents of the students had camped at the school before they were informed the students were persons of interest and would spend the night at the school under interrogation.
“They have detained some of the students as suspects and the parents who were waiting have been told to leave the school now,” said one parent on Thursday night.
A police officer aware of the incident said the students were suspected arsonists. A team from the DCI headquarters joined officers on the ground in investigating the tragedy.
According to police reports, the incident occurred in a dormitory known as the Meline Waithera Block, which housed approximately 220 students drawn from Grade 10, Form Three and Form Four classes.
Preliminary findings from witnesses indicate the fire started at the main entrance and spread quickly through the dormitory.
Some students shouted that there was fire, but by then it had already spread and covered the entrance.
Students attempted to escape through the main entrance, with some suffering burns in the process.
This is what it looks like right now at Utumishi Girls Academy. Parents are still here. Some students are being detained as investigations into the fire continue. pic.twitter.com/GpXj02e4gT— Brygettes Ngana (@NBrygettes) May 29, 2026
Others who tried to escape through the dormitory’s emergency door were not as fortunate, as the emergency door was locked. Sixteen students were burnt beyond recognition at the emergency exit.
Survivors told police that security guards attempted to break open the emergency door to rescue the students, but it was too late.
Investigators are also questioning why the school matron was absent and unreachable when the incident occurred.
Detectives were reviewing CCTV footage as a crucial element of the ongoing probe.
Dozens of other students were injured and taken to the hospital.
ALSO READ:
- UTUMISHI GIRLS FIRE: DCI Detains EIGHT Students In Arson Probe
- Education Ministry Dissolves Utumishi Girls Board, Orders Action Against School Principal
- KAKAMEGA: Youths Storm Burial, Take Body Of Student Killed During Anti-Fuel Protests
- National Assembly Summons CS Duale Over US Ebola Quarantine Deal
- EACC Arrests Kenya Power Employee Over Ksh30,000 Bribe
Education CS Julius Ogamba said at the scene of the blaze that 71 students were later discharged, while seven remained admitted for further treatment.
Rift Valley Regional Police Commander Samuel Ndanyi said seven of those still in hospital were flown to Nairobi for specialised care.
The bodies remained at the scene as pathologists said DNA samples would be required to help identify the victims.
Anxious parents and relatives have been gathering at the scene waiting for news of their loved ones.
According to police, the fire in Gilgil broke out around 1:00 am and engulfed a dormitory block housing about 220 students. More than 800 children were in the school at the time of the tragedy.
UTUMISHI GIRLS FIRE: DCI Detains EIGHT Students In Arson Probe
