Heads have started rolling over the Utumishi Girls Academy tragedy after Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba dissolved the school’s Board of Management and ordered disciplinary action against the principal following the dormitory fire that killed 16 students.
The move marks the first major accountability action by the government since the deadly blaze plunged the country into mourning and raised fresh questions about safety standards in boarding schools.
In a statement on Thursday, Ogamba said investigations had established that the school’s leadership failed to ensure compliance with safety protocols, exposing learners to danger.
As a result, the entire Board of Management was disbanded with immediate effect, while the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) was directed to commence disciplinary proceedings against the principal.
The action comes as investigators intensify efforts to establish the circumstances that led to the fire, which swept through a dormitory at the Gilgil-based school and claimed the lives of 16 students. Dozens of others were injured during the incident, with some reportedly sustaining injuries while trying to escape the flames.
The tragedy has reignited painful memories of previous school fire disasters that have claimed the lives of students across the country over the years, prompting renewed scrutiny of compliance with safety regulations in learning institutions.
The school has since been closed indefinitely to pave way for investigations, even as detectives widen their probe into the incident. Reports indicate that several students have been questioned as authorities pursue all possible leads, including claims of arson.
Ogamba’s latest action now shifts the focus from rescue and mourning to accountability, with pressure mounting on school administrators across the country to demonstrate strict adherence to safety standards.
The CS also hinted at broader measures to strengthen safety compliance in schools, as the government seeks to prevent a repeat of a tragedy that has shocked the nation.
For the families who lost their daughters, however, the disciplinary action is only the beginning. The bigger question remains whether those found responsible will ultimately be held fully accountable for one of the deadliest school fires Kenya has witnessed in recent years.
