Eight students are currently in custody as Kenyan authorities investigate a deadly fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil Sub-County, Nakuru County, that claimed the lives of 16 learners and left dozens more injured.

In a press statement released Friday, May 29, 2026, Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba confirmed that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is holding and questioning the eight students as persons of interest. Investigators are working to establish each individual’s role in the planning and execution of what has been officially declared an act of arson. Those found culpable will face charges under the Penal Code and other relevant laws.

The scale of the tragedy is significant. Of the 808 learners on school premises at the time of the incident, 16 lost their lives. Their remains have been transferred to Naivasha Sub-County Hospital Mortuary for preservation and DNA identification, with parents and guardians directed to the facility for testing. A further 79 students sustained injuries of varying degrees, with seven still hospitalized as of the statement’s release.

Investigators also revealed that two teachers had received prior warning of planned unrest from Form Three learners but failed to act before the fire broke out. Those teachers now face disciplinary proceedings alongside the school principal.

The school’s Board of Management has been dissolved for failing to meet safety standards, including dormitory overcrowding and a locked exit door — violations of the School Safety Manual and Basic Education Regulations.

Investigations are ongoing.