Kenya to charge students with murder over deadly school dormitory fire

Kenyan prosecutors announced Tuesday they will charge several students with murder in connection with a devastating dormitory fire that claimed the lives of 16 schoolmates in late May. The blaze, which occurred at Utumishi Girls’ School in Gilgil, also left 132 students injured.

The victims, aged between 15 and 18, died in the fire that broke out shortly after midnight on May 28. Nine students from the school, which primarily serves the children of police officers, remain in police custody. They were initially arrested on arson charges the day following the tragedy.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) stated that after a thorough assessment of the evidence, charges against the implicated students have been approved. A spokesperson for the prosecutor's office indicated that the suspects, who are minors, would likely appear in court on Wednesday. The exact number of students to be charged and other specific details were not immediately disclosed.

Each charged suspect will face 16 counts of murder. This development comes amid a recurring problem of deadly dormitory fires in Kenya. The Kenyan Red Cross recorded at least 47 such fires in 2026 alone. Several other fires have occurred since the Utumishi incident, prompting numerous boarding schools to send students home as a precautionary measure.

Experts suggest a combination of factors, including copycat attacks and long-standing frustration with an under-resourced and demanding education system, contribute to these recurring tragedies.

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Upon careful assessment of the evidence, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has approved charges against the implicated students.