GILGIL, Nakuru County – In a major breakthrough following the devastating dormitory blaze that claimed 16 young lives, detectives have arrested Eight Students Arrested Over Utumishi Girls Fire on suspicion of arson, as preliminary investigations reveal a damning trail of negligence, overcrowding, and ignored warnings by school officials.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) confirmed on Friday, May 29, 2026, that eight female students from Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil are in custody as “persons of interest” in connection with the planning and execution of the suspected arson attack that killed 16 students and injured 79 others . The blaze broke out shortly before 1 a.m. on Thursday in the Meline Waithera dormitory and took approximately two hours to bring under control .
DCI Intensifies Probe as Eight Students Face Arson Charges
According to the DCI, extensive interviews with students, teaching staff, and other witnesses, alongside a detailed review of available CCTV footage, led investigators to identify the eight students as key suspects . A multi-agency team comprising Crime Scene Investigators (CSIs), Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CR&IB) officers, forensic imaging specialists, and DNA experts has been camped at the school to establish the exact cause and sequence of events .
“Investigators have conducted extensive interviews with students, teaching staff and other witnesses, while forensic teams carry out a detailed review of available CCTV footage,” said DCI spokesperson John Marete . “Detectives continue to record statements and analyse all available evidence to reconstruct the sequence of events, establish the full circumstances of the incident and determine the motive.”
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba confirmed that the eight arrested students could be charged in court as soon as Tuesday, with potential charges under the Penal Code and other relevant laws . “The investigation will ascertain their individual roles in the planning and execution of this heinous act,” Ogamba stated .
Survivors Reveal Locked Emergency Exits, Causing Fatalities
As investigators continue their probe into the Eight Students Arrested Over Utumishi Girls Fire, horrifying details have emerged about the conditions inside the dormitory at the time of the blaze. Survivors and officials have revealed that one of the emergency exit doors in the dormitory was locked from the inside, trapping dozens of students as flames and smoke rapidly spread through the building .
Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen disclosed the critical safety breach during a visit to injured students in hospital. “There is a standard safety procedure that the school was to adhere to. One side of the dormitory with an emergency exit door had been locked, and it’s where we lost 10 students,” Murkomen revealed .
Survivors told Nation.Africa that when the fire started, keys to the dormitory could not be traced at first, and it took time to break down the doors to allow escape. In panic, some girls resorted to attempting escape through windows, with most injuries caused by students jumping from the upper floor because one of the doors was closed .
Parents interviewed at the scene said their children had been forced to jump out of windows, sustaining head and other serious injuries . Seven of the most critically injured students were airlifted to Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi for specialized care .
Overcrowding Cited as Contributing Factor
The investigation has also exposed severe overcrowding at the institution, which is affiliated with Kenya’s National Police Service and primarily serves children of police officers. Ogamba revealed that the affected dormitory was severely congested, with 135 bunk beds packed into a space designed for far fewer occupants .
“The school did not adhere to the safety requirements as stipulated in the School Safety Manual and the Basic Education Regulations. In particular, there was congestion in the dormitory and one exit door was locked, contrary to the prescribed safety requirements,” the CS stated .
Utumishi Academy has a total population of 815 students, and at the time of the incident, 808 girls were present on the premises, with only seven away for various reasons .
Teachers Ignored Prior Warnings of Planned Unrest
In a particularly damning finding, officials have confirmed that two teachers were alerted by a section of Form Three learners about planned unrest before the fire, yet no preventive action was taken .
“Two members of staff were informed of the planned unrest, but no appropriate intervention was made before the incident occurred,” said CS Ogamba . Education Ministry officials revealed that the two teachers had prior information about a planned arson attack but failed to report it or take any preventative measures .
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has since been apprised of the findings and has initiated disciplinary proceedings against the school principal, Joycelene Muraguri, for alleged failure to ensure compliance with safety regulations and to act on prior warning signals . “TSC will take immediate disciplinary action against the principal for failing in their duty of care,” Ogamba said .
The principal, when reached for comment by NTV Kenya, declined to speak on the matter. “The matter is in the hands of DCI. I have nothing to say,” Muraguri said .
School Board Dissolved Amid Governance Lapses
In the most sweeping administrative action taken so far, the Board of Management of Utumishi Girls Academy has been dissolved for failing to ensure compliance with the School Safety Manual and the Basic Education Regulations .
CS Ogamba confirmed that the board’s dissolution is effective immediately and is part of a broader crackdown on governance failures that contributed to the tragedy. The government has also ordered the immediate closure of the school indefinitely as investigations continue .
All 16 bodies have been recovered and moved to the Naivasha Sub-County Referral Hospital Mortuary, where post-mortem examinations and DNA testing are underway to formally identify the victims . Parents and guardians have been directed to the facility for DNA sampling .
Political Response and Calls for Accountability
President William Ruto has described the deaths as an “unimaginable tragedy” and offered condolences to affected families, stating that the government’s immediate focus is on rescue efforts, treatment of the injured, and support for families .
However, Murkomen has cautioned those who are politicizing the tragedy, calling such conduct unbecoming of leaders entrusted with national responsibility. “I want to condemn in the strongest terms possible those going around trying to gain cheap political mileage from this unfortunate incident,” he said .
The tragedy has revived painful memories of past school fires in Kenya, including the 2001 Kyanguli Secondary School fire in Machakos that killed 67 boys and the 2024 Hillside Endarasha Academy fire in Nyeri county that left 21 students dead . A 2020 government audit found that most schools in Kenya were ill-prepared for fire emergencies, with many lacking working extinguishers and alarms despite a detailed national safety manual published in 2008 .
As the Eight Students Arrested Over Utumishi Girls Fire await potential charges, the nation watches closely, demanding justice for the 16 young lives lost and systemic reforms to prevent such tragedies from ever happening again. For the parents still waiting outside the school gates with no clear information on when their children will be released, the anguish remains raw and unresolved .
This is a developing story. The eight arrested students are expected to be arraigned in court early next week as investigations continue.