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Shock and grief continue to grip the country following the deadly dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls Senior Secondary School in Gilgil that claimed the lives of sixteen students, as the Directorate of Criminal Investigations confirmed the arrest of eight students linked to the ongoing probe.
According to a statement released by the DCI on Friday, a specialized multi agency investigation team has taken over the case to establish the exact cause of the tragic fire that occurred on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at the Nakuru County based institution.
Investigators said the fire extensively damaged the first floor of Melino Waithera Dormitory, a two storey building whose upper section consisted of twelve cubicles accommodating a total of 135 double decker beds. The ground floor reportedly remained largely intact.
The DCI revealed that highly specialized personnel including Crime Scene Investigators, forensic imaging experts, and forensic DNA specialists have already processed the scene as investigations intensify.
Authorities are currently analyzing burn patterns, examining possible ignition sources, reviewing electrical installations, and assessing structural fire dynamics in an effort to establish the exact sequence of events that led to the deadly incident.
Detectives have also conducted interviews with students, teachers, and other witnesses while forensic teams continue reviewing available CCTV footage.
Preliminary investigations, according to the DCI, have identified eight students as persons of interest in connection with what investigators suspect may have been a deliberate act. The eight students have since been arrested and are currently in police custody as detectives continue recording statements and analyzing evidence to reconstruct the events surrounding the fire.
The sixteen bodies recovered from the scene were moved to Naivasha Sub County Referral Hospital Mortuary pending post mortem examinations and formal identification.
The National Police Service said the emergency response operation involved multiple agencies including the National Government Administration Officers, Kenya Defence Forces, National Youth Service, Kenya Red Cross Society, Kenya Forest Service, Kenya Power, medical officers, education officials, and the Nakuru County Government.
The DCI has appealed to parents, guardians, and members of the public to remain calm and allow investigators to complete their work, assuring Kenyans that a thorough, professional, and impartial investigation is underway.
The tragedy is likely to reignite national debate over dormitory safety standards, emergency response preparedness, and student welfare in Kenyan boarding schools following several deadly school fire incidents witnessed in the country over the years.
Further updates are expected as investigations continue.