Naivasha, Kenya (Running Africa) — Kenyan prosecutors are preparing murder charges against several students following a devastating dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls’ School in Gilgil that claimed the lives of 16 students and reignited concerns over school safety standards across the country.

The fatal blaze, which broke out on May 28, killed pupils aged between 15 and 18 and left dozens more injured. The fire also destroyed the upper floor of a dormitory that housed more than 200 students.

According to investigators, eight students currently in police custody are suspected of deliberately starting the fire by setting mattresses ablaze near a dormitory exit. Authorities say evidence gathered through student interviews, forensic investigations, and CCTV footage suggests the incident was planned.

The suspects are expected to appear before a court in Naivasha, where they could face 16 counts of murder related to the deaths of the students.

Investigators said the fire spread rapidly after an emergency exit reportedly failed to open, leaving many students trapped and forcing others to flee through a single doorway. The findings have raised fresh questions about safety compliance in Kenyan boarding schools.

Education officials who inspected the school identified several safety concerns, including overcrowded dormitories and a locked emergency exit, factors believed to have worsened the tragedy.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) said the case comes amid a worrying increase in arson-related incidents in Kenyan schools and stressed that those found responsible would face the full force of the law.

Kenya has experienced several deadly school fires over the years, many linked to arson, overcrowding, and inadequate enforcement of safety regulations, prompting renewed calls for stronger oversight and improved student protection measures.