Pritty Vishy calls for child safety after heartbreaking Utumishi Girls fire tragedy
By Ascah Mwango, May 29, 2026Kenyan content creator Pritty Vishy has joined calls for improved child safety following the tragic Utumishi Girls Academy dormitory fire in Gilgil, Nakuru County, which has left the country in mourning.
In a statement shared via her Instagram stories on Thursday, May 28, 2026, she expressed deep sorrow over the loss of young lives and the pain being felt across the country.
“Today should’ve been about celebrating children, but Kenya is mourning. 💔 Rest in peace to the innocent souls lost in the Utumishi Girls dormitory fire, and to every child we’ve lost this year,” she stated.
“Our children deserve safety, love, and protection,” she added.
The emotional message comes as authorities continue to investigate the cause of the fire that broke out at Utumishi Girls Academy in the early hours of the morning, destroying a dormitory while students were asleep.
The fire started around 1 am and was reported later as emergency teams rushed to the scene in Gilgil. Students were inside the dormitory when the blaze spread quickly through the building, trapping some of them inside.
Authorities have confirmed that at least 16 students died in the tragedy, while 79 others were injured and taken to the hospital. Several of the injured have since been discharged, though others are still receiving treatment.
Preliminary reports indicate that students struggled to escape as flames spread rapidly through the dormitory. Some survivors said they were forced to jump from windows to escape the fire, while others were rescued by emergency responders who arrived at the scene.
The tragedy has sparked nationwide grief, with leaders, parents, and public figures sending condolences to the affected families. President William Ruto and other government officials have also expressed sympathy and promised support to the victims.
Emergency teams, including the Kenya Red Cross, police officers, and disaster response units, were deployed to the school immediately after the fire was reported, working through the night to rescue students and manage the aftermath.
The incident has once again raised serious concerns about safety standards in boarding schools across the country, with many Kenyans calling for stricter enforcement and urgent reforms to prevent similar tragedies in future.