A tragic fire incident at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru county, left 16 students dead after flames swept through a dormitory on the night of May 28.According to reports, the school hosts about 808 learners, many of them children of police officers.

Emergency response teams, including the Kenya Red Cross and security officers, quickly arrived at the scene as rescue efforts continued through the night.Authorities confirmed that 79 students sustained injuries during the incident.

Seventy-one of the injured learners were treated and later discharged, while seven others were airlifted to Nairobi for specialised medical care due to the seriousness of their injuries.The fire caused panic among parents and guardians who rushed to the school hoping to locate and reunite with their children.

Several emotional scenes were witnessed as some parents managed to find their daughters safe while others remained stranded in uncertainty after failing to trace their loved ones immediately.

The government temporarily withheld the identities of the deceased students, saying the decision was necessary to avoid causing further anxiety and trauma to affected families and the public.Videos and photos from the scene showed Kenya Red Cross officers retrieving bodies from the burnt dormitory under tight police security.Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen called for investigations to establish the cause of the deadly blaze.

Leaders and members of the public also urged authorities to ensure accountability and strengthen fire safety measures in schools to prevent similar tragedies in future.