Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko on Saturday visited survivors of the devastating Utumishi Academy dormitory fire currently receiving treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), as the country continues to mourn the loss of 16 students in one of Kenya’s deadliest school tragedies in recent years.
During the visit, Sonko donated essential food and non-food items, fresh fruits, and financial assistance to help ease the burden on affected families as they care for their injured children.
Expressing his condolences to bereaved families, Sonko called on Kenyans to remain united in supporting those affected by the tragedy and to keep the injured students in their prayers as they undergo treatment and recovery.
The students currently admitted at KNH include Sonia Wangari (16), Joan Njeri (15), Nicole Naisula, Mukomah (18), Beverly Gesare (15), June Kogei Kimau (17), Babra Jeptoo (15), and Mellisah Mokeira Birongo (15).
The former governor wished the survivors a speedy recovery and commended medical personnel attending to the victims, noting that the road to healing will require collective support from the government, well-wishers, and the wider community.
While supporting the ongoing investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Sonko insisted that the school administration must also answer critical questions regarding the safety of the dormitory where the tragedy occurred.
“Education CS Julius Ogamba says the tragic Utumishi Girls High School fire was an act of arson, with the DCI currently questioning eight learners believed to be persons of interest. But still, the school management must also answer serious questions,” Sonko said.
He questioned whether emergency safety measures were functional at the time of the fire, arguing that effective evacuation systems could have saved lives regardless of how the blaze started.
“If dormitory doors could be opened from inside and proper emergency exits were in place, many children could have escaped or been rescued. Whether the fire was intentional or not, safety measures must always work. The issue of criminal negligence must also be investigated thoroughly,” he added.
Sonko praised Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba and DCI Director General Mohamed Amin for pursuing the arson investigation but urged authorities to widen the scope of the probe to include those responsible for student safety within the institution.
“Keep it up Waziri and Mr. Amin. Sasa shikeni wale walifungia our girls as if they were in Lang’ata Women Prison kumbe wako shule. This nonsense must stop,” he said.
The former governor maintained that repeated school fire tragedies across the country point to a broader failure to enforce existing safety regulations. He reiterated that if investigations establish that dormitory doors were locked, emergency exits were inadequate, or other safety requirements were ignored, those responsible should face criminal charges.
Ministry of Education regulations require dormitories to have clearly marked emergency exits that open outward, accessible escape routes, functioning fire-fighting equipment, regular fire drills, and doors that can be opened from the inside at all times when students are occupying the premises.
The tragic blaze, which claimed the lives of 16 students, has reignited national concerns over school safety standards, with leaders, parents, and education stakeholders demanding accountability and urgent reforms to prevent similar disasters.
As investigations into the cause of the fire continue, Kenyans have been urged to stand in solidarity with the affected families and support those still battling injuries in hospital, while the nation seeks answers over the circumstances that turned a school dormitory into a death trap.
