Utumishi Girls Academy fire: Victim identification as multi-agency probe continues

Efforts to identify the 16 students who died in the dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil are currently in progress. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen stated that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is leading the identification process with assistance from the Ministry of Health and other agencies. The Cabinet Secretary also confirmed that separate investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the fire. A multi-agency crisis response team continues to be present at the school, comprising representatives from the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, the Nakuru County Government, and the Kenya Red Cross. Authorities have confirmed that 16 students lost their lives in the Utumishi Girls Academy fire tragedy. A total of 79 students were injured and transported to medical facilities. Reports indicate that 71 of these students have been discharged from the hospital. Utumishi Girls Academy has been indefinitely closed to facilitate thorough investigations into the incident. Sixteen students died as a result of the fire. Latest updates reveal that 74 students were hospitalized following the fire, with most now in stable condition. The government has established an emergency hotline 1199 for information and counseling services, while a support desk has been set up at the school. The fire occurred at 1:45 am and was brought under control by approximately 3 am.