CCTV Footage Reveals Chilling Sequence of How Utumishi Girls Dormitory Fire Was Deliberately Started

CCTV footage recovered from Utumishi Girls' Senior Secondary School has become a central piece of evidence in investigations into the dormitory fire that claimed the lives of 16 students and left dozens injured.

According to investigators, the footage allegedly shows a group of students entering the Marylyn Waithera dormitory shortly after midnight before the fire broke out. Detectives say the recordings are helping authorities reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the tragedy.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has confirmed that several students have been identified through forensic analysis of the footage. Eight students were initially arrested in connection with the case, while authorities are still searching for another suspect who was previously released to her parents and is currently unaccounted for.

Investigators believe the fire originated near the dormitory entrance before spreading rapidly through the building. The footage reportedly captured movements within the dormitory minutes before the blaze erupted, providing critical leads for detectives.

The fire, which occurred on May 28, 2026, shocked the nation and triggered widespread calls for stronger safety measures in schools. More than 70 students were injured, while post-mortem examinations later confirmed that all 16 victims died from severe burn injuries.

The tragedy has prompted renewed scrutiny of safety standards in boarding schools across the country. In response, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has directed schools to strengthen surveillance systems, including the installation of CCTV cameras to enhance monitoring and improve emergency response capabilities.