Eight Students Charged with Murder in Utumishi Girls Academy Fire

Eight students at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County were charged with the murder of 16 classmates on July 2, 2026, following a prosecution service investigation into the May 28 dormitory fire that also left 79 others hospitalised. Investigators cited CCTV footage and statements from student witnesses as evidence pointing to deliberate arson.

Background and Context

The fire broke out in the early hours of May 28, 2026, engulfing the Meline Waithera dormitory, which housed 220 students. Sixteen students died and 79 others were hospitalised. The Ministry of Education suspended the school's principal following inspections that found the dormitory lacked functioning fire exits and adequate fire extinguishers.

What Comes Next

The eight accused students are expected to return to court for a mention that will determine whether the murder charges are sustained. The Ministry of Education has said it will publish a comprehensive fire safety compliance report for all boarding schools by December 2026.