The Ministry of Education has directed a fresh nationwide inspection of all boarding schools following the deadly fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil that claimed the lives of 16 students.
Speaking during an education event in Wajir County on Sunday, Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok announced that education officials have been instructed to conduct comprehensive inspections of all boarding institutions over the next 10 days, beginning June 2.
According to Bitok, the exercise will focus on evaluating compliance with student safety standards, including dormitory conditions, emergency exits, firefighting equipment, electrical installations, and other critical safety measures.
“We have directed our officers to do very thorough inspections in the next 10 days at all boarding schools to confirm afresh whether they are meeting the safety standards and give recommendations,” he said.
The PS warned that stern action would be taken against school administrators found to have ignored safety regulations and endangered learners' lives.
The directive comes in the wake of the May 28 tragedy at Utumishi Girls Academy, where a dormitory fire killed 16 students and injured dozens more. Preliminary concerns raised during investigations include alleged overcrowding in the dormitory and reports that some students were sleeping in hallways due to limited space.
Bitok revealed that he had previously held meetings with principals, education directors, and field officers, stressing the importance of adhering to safety regulations. However, he noted that some school administrators failed to implement the directives.
While describing the Utumishi Girls incident as isolated, the ministry insists it will leave nothing to chance in preventing similar disasters. Schools found violating safety standards risk closure and disciplinary action against their administrators as the government moves to strengthen student safety across the country.