The nation continues to mourn the tragic death of 16 students in a fire incident at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County.
Authorities say the fire broke out at around 12:45 am on the second floor of the dormitory at the school that has a population of 808 learners.
According to Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, emergency response teams moved swiftly, and through the joint efforts of the National Government, the County Security Team, the Anti-Stock Theft Unit, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and the Nakuru County Fire Brigade, the inferno was successfully contained by 3:00 a.m.
The aftermath of the fire tragedy left 79 students injured and were rushed to hospital for treatment.
“We are encouraged that 72 students have since been treated and discharged, while 7 others have been airlifted to the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), for further treatment and majority of them are in stable condition,” Mwaura says in a statement.
Parents and guardians who arrived at the school have been reunited with their children and have since gone home with them. Authorities say that only eight students remain at the school, and their parents/ guardians have already been contacted.
Government Pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor arrived at the scene later during the day, with the scene cordoned off to allow investigations to proceed without interference.
The recovered bodies have been transferred to the Naivasha General Hospital, whereby a Government-supported DNA identification exercise will be conducted in order to assist the families in positively identifying their loved ones.
Consequently, learning at the school has now been suspended indefinitely as investigations continue in order to ascertain the cause of the inferno.
“A help desk has been set up at the school to support affected families, while counselling and psychosocial support services are available through the national hotline 1199. The Government is taking all meassures to support and to safeguard the wellbeing and safety of all the affected families,” Mwaura adds.
