Survivors of a fire that killed at least 16 learners at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, have revealed that the dormitory where the inferno started was locked from inside.
They narrated to Nation.Africa that when the fire started, keys to the dormitory could not be traced at first and that it took time to break down the doors to allow escape. In a panic, some of the girls resorted to attempting escape through the windows.
A parent told journalists that the fire started in the dorm at around midnight. She said that most of the injuries were caused by students jumping from the upper floor because one of the doors was closed.
Suspected arson
Survivors have also pointed towards suspected arson by fellow students. They allege that the fire was started by a group of Form Three Girls who set a mattress on fire at Meline Waithera dormitory.
However, security authorities say detectives are still making enquiries to establish the exact cause of the inferno.
When reached for comment, school Principal Joycelene Muraguri said: "The matter is on the hands of DCI. I have nothing to say."
Earlier, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba announced closure of the school.
Cyprian,
Can you imagine this?
From Utumishi Girls to ASTU Headquarters is barely a 4-minute drive.
UGA to NYS Gilgil is around 10 minutes.
UGA to Westcom Garrison is about 10 minutes away.
UGA to Gilgil Barracks is roughly 12 minutes away.
Yet despite being surrounded by all these security and emergency installations, we still lost 17 children because help took more than one hour to arrive.
What do we even call this? Negligence? Failure of emergency response? Complete breakdown of coordination?
It is heartbreaking knowing that these children were not isolated in some remote village with no access roads or communication. They were surrounded by institutions that should have responded immediately, yet precious time was lost as innocent lives slipped away.
Kenyans are now left asking painful questions: how does such a tragedy happen in an area with multiple nearby security and emergency units? Why did it take so long for assistance to reach children in distress? Could some of these lives have been saved if the response had been immediate?
The pain, anger, and frustration people are feeling right now is understandable. Families have lost children, parents are broken, and the country is mourning while serious questions about preparedness and response continue hanging unanswered.
