Utumishi Girls to reopen on Thursday following govt intervention
By Valerian Khakayi, June 29, 2026Utumishi Girls Academy will reopen on Thursday, July 2, 2026, after a meeting between parents and officials from the Ministry of Education resolved concerns that had delayed the school’s reopening following the recent fire incident.
The consultative meeting held on Monday, June 29, 2026, brought together school management, ministry officials and parents who sought answers on the safety of their children following the tragedy that shook the country and raised fresh concerns over security standards in boarding schools.
Rift Valley Regional Education Coordinator James Indimuli assured parents that the institution has put in place immediate measures to safely accommodate learners ahead of reopening, saying management has reorganised available facilities to create additional space within the school following the recent tragedy.
“We have had to make some adjustments. We shall have some extra space in the dining hall, and we have also converted two classrooms so that we can ensure every facility is ready and students are accommodated well as learning resumes,” Indimuli said during the parents’ meeting.
Parents on safety concerns
During the meeting, parents pushed education officials to explain the interventions introduced to guarantee student safety, with concerns centring on school preparedness, dormitory safety and the overall welfare of learners returning to the institution after weeks of uncertainty.
The decision clears the way for students to return to school after learning was disrupted by the blaze.
Parents had, on Sunday, June 28, 2026, declined to send their daughters back to school, insisting they would only do so after receiving firm assurances that adequate safety measures had been put in place to prevent a repeat of the May 28 fire tragedy.
Closure
Following a dormitory fire that killed 16 students and injured 79 others in the early hours of Thursday, May 28, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba announced the closure.
Speaking during a press briefing at the school, Ogamba, said that all learners were to be released to their parents and guardians by midday Thursday, once authorities complete the process of accounting for every student.
“The cause of the fire is yet to be known, with investigations ongoing,” Ogamba said, urging the public against speculation over what started the blaze.
Of the 79 students who sustained injuries, 71 were treated and discharged, with seven remaining admitted to the hospital for further treatment.
According to the CS, the fire broke out at around 12:45 am and was contained by emergency response teams at about 3 am, though extensive damage had already been done by that point.