Jubilee presidential aspirant Fred Matiang'i has called on the government to convene a national conference bringing together key stakeholders to address the rising number of fire incidents in schools.
Speaking in the wake of the deadly fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Matiang'i described the recurring unrest and school fires as a grave national concern that requires urgent and collective action.
"The recurring unrest and tragic fire incidents in our
schools are a matter of grave national concern. The safety, well-being, and
future of our children must remain above politics and vested interests,"
said Matiang'i.
He urged the government to organise an all-parties national conference involving education stakeholders, parents, teachers, religious leaders and policymakers to examine the root causes of the incidents and develop lasting solutions.
"I call upon the Government to convene an all-parties national conference bringing together education stakeholders, parents, teachers, religious leaders, and policymakers to honestly examine the root causes of these incidents and agree on lasting solutions," he said.
Matiang'i's remarks come amid growing concern over a wave of school fires that have been reported across the country this year, with the tragedy at Utumishi Girls Academy emerging as the most devastating.
The fire, which broke out in a dormitory at the Gilgil-based school on May 28, claimed the lives of 16 students and left 79 others injured.
The incident sent shockwaves across the country and renewed scrutiny of safety standards in boarding schools.
Investigators are treating the incident as suspected arson, with several students having been arraigned in court as investigations continue.
Preliminary findings indicate that emergency exits were inaccessible during the blaze, hampering evacuation efforts and contributing to the high casualty toll.
The Utumishi Girls tragedy has also highlighted a worrying trend in learning institutions. According to reports, the Kenya Red Cross has responded to at least 37 school fire incidents since the beginning of 2026, raising questions about student discipline, safety preparedness and the effectiveness of existing preventive measures.
Authorities have further cited overcrowding and alleged
failures by school management to comply with safety regulations as factors that
may have worsened the impact of the Gilgil fire.
The incident has revived memories of other deadly school fires in Kenya, including the 2024 Hillside Endarasha Academy fire in Nyeri that killed 21 pupils and the 2001 Kyanguli Secondary School tragedy in Machakos that claimed 67 lives.
"Our children deserve safe learning environments. As a nation, we must act with urgency, unity, and responsibility to protect them and restore confidence in our education system," Matiang'i said.
Education stakeholders have since intensified calls for
stricter enforcement of safety regulations, regular fire drills, installation
of firefighting equipment and enhanced supervision in schools as the country
seeks to prevent a recurrence of such tragedies.
