Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has voiced alarm regarding the circumstances of the dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls Academy.
The Cabinet Secretary characterized the event as troubling and emphasized the need for discipline and moral values among students.
Following his review of CCTV footage from the incident, Murkomen expressed being deeply affected by what he witnessed, noting that the behavior of the implicated students was beyond comprehension.
“I examined the CCTV recordings from Utumishi Academy, and I was profoundly saddened. I found it difficult to rest knowing we could observe the students setting the fire,” he stated.
The Interior Cabinet Secretary observed that the students involved seemed intelligent and capable but regretted their alleged involvement in an act that destroyed the dormitory while fellow students were inside.
“Highly capable students. Some who have excelled academically as it’s a national school. Yet, they obtained paraffin and matches to deliberately burn a dormitory while consciously observing their colleagues sleeping inside and leaving them to perish, which is truly disturbing,” Murkomen remarked.
He called the incident profoundly troubling and encouraged students to consider the wider consequences of their actions, cautioning against prioritizing academic achievements over discipline and ethical foundations.
Murkomen urged students nationwide to value character development alongside scholastic success, asserting that education should transcend examinations.
“That is the most horrifying incident I have personally witnessed. As young people and students, you must understand that brilliance alone is insufficient. It is crucial to possess proper character, a positive learning attitude, and essential life skills,” he said.
He advised students against concentrating exclusively on academic results, stressing the importance of discipline and individual accountability.
“Don’t concentrate solely on passing exams. You should ask yourselves, what role do character and discipline play in your lives?” he inquired.
In recent developments, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) confirmed the identification of students suspected of igniting the fatal fire at Utumishi Girls Senior Secondary School in Gilgil, Nakuru County, which resulted in 16 deaths.
According to the DCI, significant progress was made after conducting an extensive forensic examination of CCTV footage recovered from the school.
The agency reported that investigators performed an enhanced analysis of the footage at the Forensic Imaging and Acoustic Laboratory within the National Police Service Forensics Laboratory, successfully identifying the students responsible for the arson.
“After conducting a meticulous forensic analysis of the CCTV footage from the school combined with an enhanced review at the Forensic Imaging and Acoustic Laboratory at DCI National Police Service Forensics Laboratory, we have positively identified the students who set the fire,” the statement indicated.
The DCI disclosed that collaborative analysis with teachers enabled investigators to verify the identities of seven students who participated in the arson and subsequently fled the scene.
Among the eight initially arrested suspects, six have been conclusively identified through the CCTV footage. The seventh identified student had been released to her parents and is not currently in custody.
“Active measures are now being taken to locate and apprehend her,” the DCI stated.