The Democracy for the Citizens Party has sharply criticized the government’s handling of emergencies in schools following the deadly dormitory fire at Utumishi Academy Senior School in Gilgil, Nakuru County, which claimed the lives of 16 students.
Speaking to the press on Thursday afternoon, DCP Secretary General John Methu expressed sympathy to the grieving families before questioning the country’s level of disaster preparedness in learning institutions.
“We condole with the families that have lost their loved ones. We question the disaster preparedness in our schools,” Methu stated.
The outspoken senator went further and demanded the resignation of Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, accusing him of failing to coordinate a swift and effective emergency response after the tragic incident.
According to Methu, disaster response under the current administration is often treated as an afterthought instead of a national priority.
“A Cabinet Secretary who is an epitome of failure, Kipchumba Murkomen, must take responsibility. Kenya deserves better,” he said.
Methu also questioned how such a deadly tragedy could occur at a school located near key security installations, arguing that the incident had exposed serious weaknesses in the country’s safety systems.
“How safe are our schools if Utumishi can lose 16 girls and the security is just a stone’s throw away?” he posed.
The DCP official urged the government to urgently fast-track the Disaster Preparedness Bill currently before Parliament, saying stronger laws and enforcement mechanisms are necessary to prevent future tragedies in schools.
He further linked the Utumishi Girls disaster to previous deadly school fires, including the Endarasha Academy tragedy that killed 21 pupils, claiming that the lack of conclusive public reports on past incidents points to continued negligence and failure to address the root causes of such disasters.
Meanwhile, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba confirmed that the fire broke out at around 12:45am in a second-floor dormitory. He revealed that the school had 815 students, with 808 present during the incident.
According to Ogamba, 79 students were injured, with most already discharged from hospital while others remain under medical care.
Murkomen, who visited the school alongside Ogamba, appealed to Kenyans to avoid speculation as investigations continue into the cause of the deadly blaze.
The government has since closed the school temporarily to pave way for investigations, with authorities promising that anyone found responsible will face legal action.
