NAIROBI — Kenya held a memorial service for 16 students who died in a fire at a girls’ boarding school last month, with hundreds of mourners gathering in the central town of Gilgil to honor the victims and call for accountability, according to officials and local media reports. The service took place on June 12, about two weeks after the deadly blaze at Utumishi Girls Academy in Nakuru County.
The students were killed when a dormitory fire broke out during the night of May 28. Kenyan authorities said 79 other students were injured in the incident, one of the deadliest school fires in the country in recent years. Most of the injured have since been discharged from hospital, although some suffered serious injuries, according to government officials.
At the memorial service, white coffins carrying the remains of the students were displayed alongside portraits of the victims. Family members, classmates, community leaders and government officials attended the ceremony. Kenya’s First Lady, Rachel Ruto, was among those present, according to reports from the event.
Police have described the fire as an act of arson. Investigators said the blaze was allegedly started at the dormitory’s exit using a mattress, paraffin and a matchstick. Authorities have arrested nine students in connection with the case, and the suspects remain in custody as investigations continue. Officials have not publicly disclosed a motive.
“We must ensure that such a tragedy never happens again,” local leaders and mourners said during calls for justice and improved school safety measures, according to accounts from the memorial service.
The tragedy has renewed scrutiny of safety standards in Kenyan boarding schools. Education officials said more than 300 schools were temporarily closed for inspections following concerns about fire preparedness and compliance with safety regulations. Authorities also suspended the principal of Utumishi Girls Academy pending investigations into whether safety requirements had been followed.
School fires have occurred periodically in Kenya, often prompting questions about overcrowding, emergency exits and preparedness measures. The latest incident has drawn comparisons with previous fatal school fires, including a 2001 dormitory blaze that killed dozens of students.
As of June 18, investigations into the Utumishi Girls Academy fire were continuing, with police and education authorities pursuing both criminal and administrative inquiries. Details regarding the motive behind the alleged arson remain unclear.
