Kenyan students face murder charges after deadly school fire
Kenyan authorities plan to charge several students with the murder of 16 schoolmates following a tragic dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls’ School in Gilgil. The incident left 16 pupils dead and 132 injured, shocking the nation and prompting widespread concern about school safety. Nine students remain in police custody, with charges approved by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The country has seen a troubling rise in similar incidents, with dozens of schools sending students home as a precaution.
What we know
- Prosecutors will charge students with the murder of 16 peers after a fire at Utumishi Girls’ School in Gilgil.
- The fire broke out shortly after midnight on 28 May, resulting in 16 deaths and 132 injuries.
- Nine students remain in custody, most arrested the day after the incident on arson charges.
- Each suspect will face 16 counts of murder, according to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
- The Kenyan Red Cross recorded no fewer than 47 deadly dormitory fires in 2026 alone.
