Fresh details have emerged over the deadly fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, with a parent alleging that a locked emergency exit may have contributed to the high death toll and injuries during the incident.
Speaking on Thursday morning after the tragedy, the parent claimed one of the dormitory’s emergency doors remained locked as terrified students struggled to escape the fast-spreading flames.
According to the parent, the dormitory was divided into upper and lower sections, and only one emergency exit was opened during the chaos.
“The matron opened one of the emergency doors to allow students to escape, but another door remained locked,” the parent claimed.
The parent further alleged that after opening one exit, the matron left the dormitory while some students remained trapped inside.
Students housed in the upper section of the dormitory reportedly resorted to jumping from the building to escape the fire, with several sustaining serious injuries in the process.
“Some of the girls jumped to the ground and suffered critical injuries, which is why several are now admitted in hospital,” the parent added.
The emotional parent also faulted the school for allegedly assigning only one matron to the dormitory, arguing that additional staff could have helped open multiple exits simultaneously and possibly reduced the number of casualties.
“I call on the government to ensure dormitories have at least two matrons because if there were two, both emergency doors could have been opened quickly,” the parent stated.
The fire broke out in the early hours of Thursday at the Meline Waithera Block dormitory, which housed 220 students from Grade 10, Form Three, and Form Four classes.
Police have confirmed that 16 students died in the tragedy, while 79 others were rushed to hospital with injuries.