Kenyan police have arrested eight students in connection with a deadly fire that occurred at a girls' school. The students are suspected of arson. The fire ripped through the school, resulting in fatalities. The arrests were made by Kenyan police.
Kenyan authorities have arrested eight students in connection with a deadly fire at Utumishi Girls’ Academy Senior School in Gilgil. The blaze, which occurred in the early hours of Thursday, resulted in the deaths of 16 students and injured 79 others. Police stated that preliminary investigations identified the eight students as persons of interest in the planning and execution of the suspected arson. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations confirmed their arrest and current custody. Education Minister Julius Ogamba also reported that two teachers were informed of the alleged plans but failed to intervene. Fires are reportedly common in Kenyan schools, often linked to student protests against harsh discipline and poor conditions.
Eight girls have been arrested on suspicion of arson following a devastating fire at Utumishi Girls Academy Senior School in Gilgil, Kenya. The blaze, which occurred in the early hours of Thursday, resulted in the deaths of 16 students and injured 79 others. The Directorate of Criminal Investigation identified the eight girls as "persons of interest" in connection with the suspected arson attack. They are currently in police custody as investigations continue. Parents expressed frustration over the lack of information regarding their children in the aftermath of the fire. One injured student recounted her experience and noted the principal's assistance with medical bills.
Eight students have been arrested by Kenyan police on suspicion of arson.
— Kenyan police
A deadly fire occurred at a girls' school in Kenya.
The fire ripped through a girls' school dorm.
Eight girls have been arrested on suspicion of arson after a fire at Utumishi Girls Academy Senior School in Gilgil, Kenya.
— police
The fire killed 16 students and injured 79 others.
— police
Eight students have been arrested in Kenya in connection with a suspected arson attack that killed 16 pupils at the Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil. The fire occurred early Thursday morning, engulfing the upper floor of a dormitory housing 135 students. Police identified the eight as "persons of interest" after reviewing interviews and CCTV footage. Investigations into the exact cause of the blaze are ongoing. Kenya has a history of school fires, often attributed to arson by disgruntled students or accidental causes, with overcrowding and safety violations contributing to high casualty numbers.
The fire occurred at the Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Kenya, on Thursday morning.
Kenya has a history of school fires, with at least 21 deaths in a dormitory fire two years prior.
Eight students have been arrested in connection with a suspected deadly school arson attack that killed 16 pupils.
— police
Eight pupils were identified as 'persons of interest' after interviews and CCTV review.
— National Police Service
Disgruntled pupils, overcrowding, and failure to follow safety guidelines are often blamed for school fires.
A fire has resulted in the deaths of at least 16 students at a girls' boarding school in Kenya. The blaze tore through the school's dormitory, also causing injuries to dozens of others. The exact cause of the fire is not specified in the provided content. The incident occurred at a girls' boarding school.
At least 16 students were killed in a fire at a Kenyan girls' school.
Dozens of students were injured in the fire.
The fire occurred in the dormitory of a girls' boarding school in Kenya.
A fire at Utumishi girls academy in Gilgil, Nakuru county, Kenya, killed at least 15 students overnight and injured dozens more. The blaze occurred around 3:30 am on Thursday in a dormitory housing approximately 220 girls. The cause of the fire is currently unconfirmed. Police are searching for unaccounted-for pupils who may have escaped the dormitory. This incident follows a pattern of fatal school fires in Kenya in recent years, with a 2024 incident resulting in 21 student deaths and a 2017 blaze claiming nine lives. A 2022 report indicated that most state secondary schools were unprepared for fires.
A fire at Utumishi Girls School in Gilgil, central Kenya, has resulted in the deaths of at least 16 students and injured 79 others. Education Minister Julius Ogamba confirmed the casualties on Thursday, following the overnight blaze. The cause of the fire is currently unknown. Police are leading rescue efforts and searching the surrounding areas for students who may have fled the dormitory due to shock and fear. This incident adds to Kenya's history of school fires, with previous incidents in 2024 and 2017 also resulting in student fatalities.
At least 16 students died in an overnight fire at Utumishi Girls School in Gilgil, central Kenya. Education Minister Julius Ogamba reported that 79 other students were injured in the dormitory blaze. The school has over 800 students. The cause of the fire is currently unknown, and authorities will investigate adherence to the school's fire safety manual. Police are leading rescue and emergency response efforts at the school, located approximately 120 kilometers from Nairobi.
At least 16 students were killed and 79 injured in a fire at Utumishi Girls School in Gilgil, Kenya.
— Education Minister Julius Ogamba
At least 16 students died in an overnight fire at a girls' boarding school in Kenya.
— government official
79 other students were injured in the fire at Utumishi Girls School.
— Education Minister Julius Ogamba
The Utumishi Girls School has more than 800 students.
— Education Minister Julius Ogamba
The cause of the fire has not yet been established.