Kenyan prosecutors have approved murder charges against eight students accused of involvement in a deadly fire at Utumishi Girls’ School that killed 16 pupils and injured dozens more.
The blaze occurred on 28 May 2026 in a crowded dormitory in Gilgil, about 120 kilometres north-west of Nairobi. Investigators allege that mattresses were deliberately set alight near an exit, while a malfunctioning emergency door left students with only one escape route.
Following forensic examinations and CCTV reviews, police identified eight pupils as persons of interest in the planning and execution of the incident.
The students, aged between 15 and 18, remain in custody and are expected to be formally charged with 16 counts of murder on Friday. Kenya’s education authorities have cited overcrowding and breaches of safety regulations at the school, amid renewed concern over a rise in arson cases in educational institutions across the country.
The country has experienced several deadly school fires in recent years, many linked to student unrest and inadequate safety measures.