Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba Confirms Fatalities, Activates National Hotline, and Calls for Calm as Investigations Into the Cause of the Deadly Blaze Get Underway.
Kenya is in mourning following one of the most heartbreaking school tragedies in recent memory. A devastating fire that tore through a dormitory at Utumishi Girls' Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, in the early hours of Thursday, May 28, 2026, has claimed the lives of 16 young students, left 79 others injured, and shaken an entire nation to its core.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba addressed the press on Thursday morning, providing the first official comprehensive account of the disaster and outlining the government's immediate response.
All Students to Be Released to Parents by Midday
In his address, CS Ogamba confirmed that all students currently at Utumishi Girls' Academy will be released to their parents and guardians by midday today, May 28, 2026 — once authorities complete the critical process of fully accounting for every single learner.
"We will also be releasing learners with their parents who are here during the course of the day," Ogamba stated, reassuring anxious families that the government is managing the process in an orderly and humane manner.
The announcement brings some relief to hundreds of parents and guardians who have been frantically rushing to the school since news of the fire broke in the early morning hours.
The Scale of the Tragedy: Key Numbers at a Glance
CS Ogamba provided a detailed breakdown of the school's population and the extent of the disaster:
- Total student population: 815 girls enrolled at Utumishi Girls' Academy
- Students present at the time of the fire: 808 learners
- Students at home at the time: 7 learners, away for undisclosed reasons
- Confirmed deaths: 16 students
- Students injured: 79 learners rushed to hospital for treatment
- Students treated and discharged: 71 out of the 79 injured
- Time the fire broke out: Approximately 12:45 AM
- Time the fire was contained: Approximately 3:00 AM
The fire burned for over two hours before emergency response teams were able to bring it under control — by which point extensive and irreversible damage had already been done to the dormitory.
Government Activates Emergency Hotline 1199 for Parents
Recognising that some parents may have already arrived at the school and left with their children before the official roll call was completed, CS Ogamba directed all parents to report through the government's dedicated emergency hotline.
Hotline Number: 1199
"There is a hotline number 1199 to which we ask the parents to keep reporting, especially those who left with their kids when they came earlier," Ogamba said.
Critically, the CS revealed that the hotline will serve a dual purpose — it will be used not only to account for the whereabouts of all 808 students who were present during the incident, but also to provide counselling services to affected families, students, and members of the school community in the traumatic aftermath of the fire.
If you are a parent or guardian of a student at Utumishi Girls' Academy and have not yet reported to authorities, call 1199 immediately.
The Fire: What We Know So Far
The fire broke out at approximately 12:45 AM on Thursday, May 28 — in the dead of night, when students were asleep in their dormitory. Emergency response teams were dispatched to the scene and worked through the night to bring the blaze under control, eventually containing it at around 3:00 AM.
Despite the swift response, the two-hour window during which the fire raged proved catastrophic. Sixteen young lives were lost, and dozens more students sustained injuries ranging from burns to injuries sustained while trying to escape the burning building.
The cause of the fire has not yet been officially determined. Investigations are actively ongoing, and CS Ogamba was firm in his call for the public to avoid drawing premature conclusions.
"Let's not be speculative at this stage. We have a school safety manual that all schools adhere to. Let's wait and see if the manual was adhered to after the investigation," the CS stated.
Were Safety Regulations Followed? CS Cautions Against Speculation
Among the most pressing questions circulating on social media and among grieving parents is whether the school's emergency exits were accessible at the time of the fire. Some accounts — including an allegation from a parent that a locked emergency door may have worsened the death toll — have been widely shared online.
CS Ogamba addressed this directly, cautioning the public and media against speculation while investigations are still in their earliest stages.
"The cause of the fire is yet to be known, with investigations ongoing," he confirmed, adding that the government would determine whether Utumishi Girls' Academy fully complied with the School Safety Manual that all Kenyan learning institutions are required to follow.
Authorities will be examining, among other things:
- Whether emergency exits were functioning and accessible
- Whether fire detection and suppression systems were in place and operational
- Whether staff and students had received adequate fire safety training
- Whether the dormitory met all structural and safety requirements under Kenyan law
A Nation Mourns: The Broader Impact
The tragedy at Utumishi Girls' Academy comes as yet another painful reminder of the fire safety vulnerabilities that continue to plague boarding schools across Kenya. The country has witnessed a number of deadly school fires over the years, each one reigniting urgent national conversations about dormitory safety standards, emergency preparedness, and government oversight of school infrastructure.
The loss of 16 young girls — students with futures, dreams, and families — is an immeasurable tragedy. Seventy-nine more families are now anxiously waiting for updates on the condition of their injured daughters, while an entire school community grapples with shock, grief, and trauma.
The government's response in the hours and days ahead will be under intense scrutiny. Kenyans — and the families of the victims — will be watching closely to ensure that accountability is upheld, that the full truth of what happened at Utumishi Girls' Academy is brought to light, and that meaningful reforms follow in the wake of this devastating loss.
What Affected Families Should Do Right Now
If you are a parent or guardian of a student at Utumishi Girls' Academy:
- Call hotline 1199 to report your child's status, especially if you have already picked them up from school
- Head to the school if you have not yet been able to locate or confirm the safety of your child
- Access counselling through the 1199 hotline — professional support is available for both students and parents
- Avoid sharing unverified information on social media that may cause further panic or interfere with the ongoing investigation
Final Words
Kenya stands with the families of the 16 girls who lost their lives at Utumishi Girls' Academy. As the nation waits for the findings of the ongoing investigations, the most urgent priority remains the safety, wellbeing, and healing of every student, parent, and community member affected by this tragedy.
This is a developing story. We will continue to update this article as more information becomes available.