… Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba says preliminary findings exposed serious safety lapses at the Academy in the wake of the deadly dormitory fire. …
Utumishi Girls' board dissolved, three teachers facing disciplinary action after deadly fire By Joseph Muia May 29, 2026 02:16 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Education CS Julius Ogamba during a past addres …
… ers entrusted with national responsibility. “I want to condemn in the strongest terms possible those going around trying to gain cheap political mileage from this unfortunate incident,” he said.The institution has since been closed following an order by Education CS Julius Ogamba …
… Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba on Friday, May 29, said the Board was disbanded for failing to comply with the School Safety Manual and basic education regulations. …
… Following the fire, senior government officials, including Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, DCI Director Mohamed Amin, and Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika, visited the scene of the fire.But MPs later dismissed claims that lead …
… Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba earlier in the day, faulted the school for failing to comply with safety regulations.“The school did not adhere to the safety requirements stipulated in the school safety manual and the basic education regulations,” Ogamba said, adding th …
… The comments come as the government continues investigations into the cause of the Gilgil fire, which broke out at about 12.45am in a dormitory on the second floor, according to Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba. …
… to compliance with school safety manual after Utumishi Academy tragedy kills 16 By Tonny Ndungu May 28, 2026 12:08 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Audio By Vocalize Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba …
… Among them are Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, senior government officials, regulators such as as the Commission for University Education (CUE), Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), and TVET Authority (TVETA), as well as international experts from organisations …
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba dissolved the Board of Management of Utumishi Girls Academy following a dormitory fire that killed 16 students, citing serious safety lapses including congestion and a locked exit door. Two teachers and the principal are under disciplinary review for failing to act on warnings of planned unrest and failing to enforce safety compliance.
Why it matters
The government's dissolution of the school board signals official acknowledgment of serious negligence and marks a concrete response to the tragedy.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba dissolved the Board of Management of Utumishi Girls Academy following a dormitory fire that killed 16 students, citing serious safety lapses including congestion and a locked exit door. Two teachers and the principal are under disciplinary review for failing to act on warnings of planned unrest and failing to enforce safety compliance.
The Ministry of Education has dissolved the Board of Management of Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, following a deadly fire that claimed 16 learners' lives. The board was disbanded for failing to ensure compliance with the School Safety Manual and Basic Education Regulations, with safety lapses including dormitory overcrowding and a locked exit door.
Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen says the deadly fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil could have been caused by possible negligence by the administration. Eight students have been arrested as persons of interest in connection with the suspected arson attack, and preliminary investigations found that exit doors had been locked, preventing escapes.
The government has dissolved the Board of Management of Utumishi Girls Academy following a dormitory fire that killed 16 students. The Education Cabinet Secretary has directed the Teachers Service Commission to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the principal and two teachers for failing to enforce safety standards and act on warnings about unrest.
Gloria Orwoba criticized the government for proceeding with the National Prayer Breakfast while a fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Nakuru County killed 16 learners and injured 79 others. She argued the event should have been cancelled in honour of the deceased and accused the government of failing to implement school safety measures despite previous tragedies.
Chief Justice Martha Koome has urged a comprehensive review of school safety standards following a deadly fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil that killed 16 people. The Education Cabinet Secretary said the school failed to comply with safety regulations, including overcrowding and a locked exit door.
The Education and Interior Cabinet Secretaries said the government will review compliance with the school safety manual as investigations into a deadly dormitory fire at Utumishi Academy Senior School in Gilgil, Nakuru County continue. The officials said investigators are yet to establish the cause of the blaze.
Kenya's Ministry of Education–convened national conference has endorsed reforms creating Comprehensive Schools that bring Primary and Junior School levels under a single Board of Management, Head of Institution, and unified administration, aimed at streamlining administration and enhancing Competency-Based Education implementation.
Kenya will host a National Qualifications Conference in Nairobi on May 12–14, 2026, bringing together policymakers, regulators, employers, academics, and development partners to reimagine how qualifications are defined and linked to employment. The event, organised by the Kenya National Qualifications Authority, reflects on over a decade of the Kenya National Qualifications Framework and aims to make the qualifications system more responsive to labour market needs.
Four months into senior school, Kenya's first cohort of Competency-Based Education learners is revealing hidden talents and aligning learning with personal interests, demonstrating the impact of the country's education reforms. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the transition marks a departure from exam-driven culture and is preparing learners for a world defined by technological and economic change.
Kenya is transitioning to Competency-Based Education, which emphasises critical thinking, creativity and practical skills over rote memorisation, according to Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba. The approach places learners at the centre of education with focus on practical application of knowledge, as demonstrated at the 3rd Annual Educational Assessment Symposium hosted by KNEC.
An editorial argues that Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba's admission that he cannot punish school principals who arbitrarily increase fees reveals a governance failure that has weakened ministerial authority. The piece contends that the education sector requires a CS with full command of his ministry, not a ceremonial figurehead, and points to systemic failures including crumbling infrastructure, understaffing, and examination cartels.
An editorial argues that Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba cannot claim powerlessness in disciplining school principals who impose illegal fees, and that the ministry's fragmented governance structure enables "rogue" school heads to exploit loopholes while accountability stalls between bureaucratic caution and political interference.
The government has moved to disband the Board of Management at Alliance Girls High School following an investigation that uncovered inflated fees, questionable expenditures, and governance failures. The board approved a 2026 fee structure of Sh120,179, more than double the government-approved Sh53,554, with non-essential expenses including Sh16 million for annual trips and Sh13 million for prize-giving ceremonies.
The National government has begun construction of the first public university in Baringo at Kabarnet, with a Sh1 billion project to be undertaken by a Chinese company in collaboration with Kenya Defence Forces. The first phase of academic infrastructure is expected to be completed in one and half years, with phase two to follow in subsequent financial years.