Kenyan Students Face Murder Charges After Dormitory Fire

Students escorted to court
Eight students are still in police custody following their arrest last month.

Kenyan prosecutors have announced they will charge eight pupils with murder for the 28 May incident at Utumishi Girls’ School in Gilgil, which claimed 16 lives and injured dozens.

The dormitory fire began on the upper floor of a building that housed 202 students and 135 bunk beds. A single exit was blocked, forcing occupants to flee over a locked door while flames from mattresses set against the exit rapidly spread.

After reviewing CCTV footage and forensic evidence, police identified the eight students as persons of interest in the planning and execution of the fire. They are already held at the local police station.

The Director of Public Prosecutions approved 16 counts of murder for the students, with charges due to be formally brought before the court in Naivasha on Wednesday.

Officials say the incident highlights a worrying rise in arson cases in Kenyan schools. Education Minister Julius Ogamba cited breaches of safety protocols—overcrowding, locked exits, and failure to keep fire safety equipment in use—as contributing factors.

Kenya has previously seen fatal school fires, such as the 2024 dormitory blaze that killed at least 21 people. Overcrowding and lax safety measures continue to underlie many of these tragedies.

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