BREAKING: Chaos Erupts at Utumishi Girls as Grieving Parent Interrupts DIG Lagat’s Speech

Tension and grief engulfed Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil after a distressed parent interrupted a media briefing by Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat while searching for her missing daughter following a deadly dormitory fire.

The emotional incident unfolded as senior government officials addressed the public after the overnight blaze that killed at least 16 students and left dozens injured.

Witnesses at the school said the distraught mother broke down in tears and demanded answers about the whereabouts of learners affected by the tragedy.

The fire reportedly started at around 1am inside the Meline Waithera Block, a dormitory that housed about 220 students from Grade 10, Form Three, and Form Four classes.

Rescue teams, police officers, and emergency responders rushed to the scene as panic spread across the school compound.

Authorities confirmed that 74 students sustained injuries during the incident.

Several victims were taken to Gilgil Sub County Hospital and St Mark’s Hospital for treatment as families gathered at the school seeking information about their children.

Parents at the scene raised concerns over the school’s safety measures, with some alleging that a locked emergency exit may have slowed down students trying to escape from the burning dormitory.

Investigations into the cause of the fire and the claims surrounding safety procedures are ongoing.

Top government officials, including Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, visited the school to assess the situation and comfort affected families.

The Ministry of Education later ordered the temporary closure of the institution and directed that surviving students be released to their parents and guardians.

To support families searching for their children, the government established an emergency hotline through 1199 to help trace missing learners and coordinate information sharing.

Mental health experts from the State Department for Children Services and the Kenya Red Cross were also deployed to provide counselling and psychosocial support to affected families.

The tragedy has sparked fresh debate over school safety standards and emergency preparedness in boarding institutions across the country as investigations continue.