Parent Claims Locked Emergency Exit May Have Worsened Deadly Utumishi Girls Academy Fire
A grieving parent has alleged that a locked emergency exit may have contributed to the devastating dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, which claimed the lives of 16 students and left dozens more injured.
The emotional claims emerged on Thursday morning as distraught families gathered at the school following the deadly blaze that tore through the Meline Waithera Block dormitory in the early hours of the day.
According to the parent, chaos erupted after flames engulfed the crowded dormitory housing more than 220 learners from Grade 10, Form Three and Form Four classes.
Speaking shortly after the tragedy, the parent alleged that only one of the dormitory’s emergency exits was opened during the frantic evacuation, leaving many students trapped inside the burning building.
“The dormitory is divided into upper and lower sections. While he was in the lower section, the matron opened one emergency door to allow students to escape during the incident,” the parent claimed.
“He gave the learners a signal and immediately left the dormitory, leaving the students inside.”
The parent further alleged that another emergency exit remained locked during the fire, a situation they believe may have worsened the scale of the tragedy.
According to the account, several students trapped in the upper section of the dormitory were forced to jump from elevated areas in a desperate bid to escape the rapidly spreading flames.
“Some of those on the upper side of the dormitory jumped to the ground and sustained serious injuries. That is why many are currently nursing critical injuries in hospital,” the parent said.
The grieving parent also questioned the school’s staffing arrangements, claiming that only one matron had been assigned to the dormitory at the time of the incident.
“I call on the government to ensure all student dormitories have at least two matrons,” the parent added.
“When the matron opened one door, another emergency door remained locked. If there had been two matrons, they could have opened both exits at once, and perhaps we would not be talking about so many deaths.”
Authorities have not yet confirmed the allegations regarding the locked emergency exit, and investigations into the cause of the inferno are ongoing.
Police have so far confirmed that 16 students died in the tragedy, while at least 74 others were rushed to hospital with injuries ranging from burns to fractures sustained during the escape.
Senior government officials, including Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok and Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat, arrived at the school on Thursday to assess the situation and oversee emergency response efforts.
Meanwhile, President William Ruto has joined the nation in mourning the victims, describing the incident as an unimaginable tragedy.
“Our hearts and prayers are with the families who have lost their beloved daughters in the tragic fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil,” the President said in a statement.
“No words can truly ease the pain of losing young lives filled with promise, hope and dreams for the future. As a nation, we mourn with the parents, guardians, teachers and fellow students enduring this heartbreaking tragedy.”
President Ruto said the government’s immediate priority was supporting rescue operations, ensuring injured students receive urgent medical treatment and assisting affected families as investigators work to establish the cause of the fire.
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