Major Fire Engulfs Kenya Girls' Dormitory, 16 Schoolgirls Dead

A major fire engulfed a girls’ dormitory in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, killing at least 16 schoolgirls in the early hours of Thursday (28 May 2026) local time. According to Reuters on 29 May, the blaze occurred at Utumishi Girls’ Academy in Gilgil, western-central Kenya. Kenya’s Education Minister Julius Migos stated the fire broke out shortly after midnight and burned for over two hours. In addition to the fatalities, 79 students were injured, with 71 discharged from hospital after treatment. At the scene, police and rescue workers assisted the wounded, while some students walked with bandages and families gathered around the school embraced and wept. The dormitory building suffered severe damage, with shattered windows and walls covered in soot. Authorities are still investigating the incident. School fires are common in Kenya, with the government recording over 100 such incidents in 2024.