The death toll from the devastating dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls Academy has risen to 16, deepening the tragedy and intensifying fears among parents still searching for their daughters following the overnight inferno.
Authorities also confirmed that at least 74 students are currently admitted at St. Joseph's Hospital and other medical facilities with varying degrees of injuries sustained during the chaotic escape from the burning dormitory.
The latest figures emerged as senior government officials visited the school to assess the situation and oversee rescue and response efforts.
Among those who toured the scene were Kipchumba Murkomen, Migos Ogamba and Susan Kihika, who met school administrators, emergency responders and distraught parents gathered outside the institution.
Meanwhile, emotional scenes continued unfolding at both the school and hospitals as desperate parents flocked to the facilities trying to trace their children amid confusion over the exact number of students accounted for.
Some parents were seen moving between hospital wards and school grounds seeking information, while others waited anxiously for official communication from authorities.
Police have also intensified search operations in neighbouring areas after reports emerged that several students fled the school compound during the fire out of fear and panic.
The tragedy has once again reignited concerns over dormitory safety standards, emergency exits, and disaster preparedness in Kenyan boarding schools, with pressure mounting on authorities to establish whether negligence or safety failures contributed to the scale of the disaster.