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A school dormitory under fire.[File Standard]
Kenya is mourning once again. The tragic fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil that claimed the lives of 16 innocent students and left dozens injured is not just another school accident. It is a national shame, a painful reminder that we continue to fail our children despite years of promises, investigations, and recommendations after similar tragedies.
As a Kenyan who has lost a cousin in this heartbreaking incident, I write not only with grief but also with anger. No parent sends a child to school expecting to receive a death notification. Schools are meant to be places of safety, learning, and hope. Instead, for some families, Utumishi Girls became a place where dreams ended in smoke and flames.
What hurts even more is that many of the concerns emerging from preliminary investigations sound painfully familiar. Reports indicate possible overcrowding, locked exits, and failures in safety compliance. Authorities have already dissolved the school’s Board of Management, while investigations continue into allegations that warning signs may have been ignored.
