President William RutoPresident William Ruto has vowed that the government will do everything possible to ensure schools remain safe learning environments following a series of fire incidents that have rocked learning institutions across the country.
In a message read on his behalf during the requiem mass for the 16 Utumishi Girls Academy students who died in a dormitory fire, the President assured parents that the government would take measures to prevent similar tragedies.
"To every Kenyan parent who sends a child to school in trust, I make this promise: We will not rest until our schools are places of safety, and we will take every measure so that no family ever again bears this sorrow," Ruto said.
The message was read by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba during the emotional service held at Gilgil Stadium on Friday.
The President's remarks come amid growing concern over school safety after dozens of fire incidents were reported in learning institutions this year.
Ruto said the nation was united in grief following the deaths of the 16 students, describing them as daughters of Kenya whose lives had been cut short while pursuing their dreams.
"These were girls full of promise, bright, ambitious, dreaming of the women they would become and the country they would help build," he said.
"They were not only their parents' daughters, but they were also the daughters of Kenya. Today, the whole nation grieves as one home."
The President extended his condolences to the families, friends and the entire Utumishi Girls Academy fraternity, acknowledging the pain parents were enduring.
"As a parent myself, I know there is no grief deeper than that of a mother or a father who must bury a child. We mourn with you as one family," he said.
Ruto said the country had gathered not only to mourn the students but also to celebrate the lives they lived and the futures they had hoped to achieve.
"We gather not only to mourn them, but to honour them for the joy they brought, the friendships that they cherished and the futures that they reached towards with such hope," he said.
He also commended teachers, first responders, healthcare workers and security personnel for their response to the tragedy and support for affected families.
"I thank the teachers, first responders, health workers and security agencies whose compassion and courage brought comfort in a moment of unimaginable pain," the President said.
The requiem mass brought together grieving families, students, teachers, religious leaders and senior government officials, including First Lady Rachel Ruto, as the nation prepared to bid farewell to the 16 girls.
The students died following a dormitory fire that broke out at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil on May 28.
The tragedy triggered renewed scrutiny of safety standards in schools, with education stakeholders and emergency responders calling for stricter enforcement of fire safety measures, improved dormitory inspections and better emergency preparedness in learning institutions.
As families mourned their daughters on Friday, the President said their memories would endure beyond the tragedy.
"Their lives, though cut short, will never be forgotten," he said. "May their souls rest in eternal peace."
