Heavy security presence was witnessed on Tuesday evening at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil as senior government officials rushed to the institution following a rapidly developing emergency that has drawn national attention and triggered urgent response operations.
The mood around the school remained tense, with parents gathering outside the gates seeking information while security officers restricted access to the compound.
Emergency responders continued to move in and out of the institution as authorities coordinated efforts to establish what had happened and account for all students.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and the Director of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin later arrived at the school in Gilgil, signaling the seriousness with which the government was treating the unfolding situation.
Their arrival followed initial reports that prompted a multi-agency deployment to the school. It has now been confirmed that a tragic dormitory fire broke out at the institution during the night, catching students off guard while they were inside their sleeping quarters.
Preliminary accounts indicate that the blaze spread quickly through the affected dormitory before it could be contained, overwhelming efforts by initial responders.
Authorities have reported that at least 15 students lost their lives in the inferno, while several others sustained injuries of varying severity.
The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals in Gilgil and Nakuru, where medical teams are currently working around the clock to stabilize them.
The exact cause of the fire remains unknown, though investigators have already begun combing through the scene for evidence.
Emergency teams, including police officers, fire brigade units, and disaster response personnel, spent hours at the school trying to secure the area and prevent further damage.
Sections of the dormitory were left completely razed, with charred remains and debris marking the extent of the destruction.
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Parents and guardians who arrived at the school were overcome with grief and confusion as they waited for official communication regarding the fate of their children.
Authorities have urged calm, stating that full accountability will be provided once identification processes are completed.
CS Murkomen assured the public that a thorough investigation has been launched, promising that anyone found responsible whether through negligence or other causes will face the full force of the law.
DCI Director Mohamed Amin also confirmed that forensic experts have been deployed to determine the origin of the fire and reconstruct the events leading up to the tragedy.
The Ministry of Education is expected to issue further directives as the country grapples with yet another devastating school fire incident that has reignited concerns over student safety and emergency preparedness in boarding institutions.
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