At least 16 students have died following a tragic fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Nakuru County.
The fire broke out at around 12:45 a.m. in a dormitory on the second floor of Utumishi Girls Senior School, where 808 girls were staying.
According to authorities, 79 students were injured during the incident and rushed to different hospitals. So far, 71 students have been treated and discharged, while 7 remain admitted in stable condition. One student was picked up by a parent.
Emergency teams, including the county security team, ASTU, KDF, and the Nakuru County Fire Brigade, managed to contain the fire by 3:00 a.m.
Sadly, 16 students lost their lives in the tragedy. Identification of the bodies is still ongoing with help from the Ministry of Health and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Investigations have also started to establish the cause of the fire.
Parents and guardians who arrived at the school were allowed to take their children home. Authorities have also set up a support desk at the school, while assistance can be accessed through the hotline number 1199.
A multi-agency crisis response team remains at the school to support affected families and coordinate emergency response efforts.
