Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen drew sharp criticism after a deadly dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, early on May 28. Opposition leaders accused him of delaying his response to the tragedy that claimed at least 16 young lives because he waited for weather to fly instead of driving the short distance, sparking fresh questions about government readiness when disaster strikes Kenyan schools.
The blaze tore through the girls’ dormitory around one in the morning while students slept. Smoke and flames trapped many inside, with reports of locked exits and barred windows adding to the horror. By dawn, parents rushed to the school gates in Gilgil, some still in night clothes, desperately searching for their daughters among the chaos of ambulances and emergency crews. The air carried the heavy smell of burnt wood and ash as rescue teams worked through the ruins.
Murkomen Response Sparks Outrage Over Leadership
Nyandarua Senator and DCP Secretary General John Methu did not mince words when he addressed the media about the handling of the crisis. He laid out the timeline clearly and pointed fingers at the interior minister.
“We are adequately aware that CS Murkomen was informed of the fire tragedy at 2 a.m. last night, but he could not marshal government machinery and drive a distance of one and a half hours. The cabinet secretary is so big that he could not even drive. He chose to only fly and was waiting for the weather to clear up this morning,” Methu said in his speech to reporters.
He went on without pulling punches. “A cabinet secretary who is an epitome of failure, Mr Kipchumba Murkomen, must take personal responsibility for the loss of lives of the children who have lost their lives.” Those words spread quickly across social media and local news, hitting a nerve among Kenyans already weary from past school fire incidents.
Murkomen eventually arrived at the scene by helicopter later in the day. Images showed him walking through the school compound, surrounded by officials and security, as grieving families looked on. Some parents shouted in frustration, wanting clearer answers about where their girls were and what exactly went wrong overnight. Police had to step in at moments to keep things from boiling over completely.
Community Grief and Calls for Answers
Residents in Gilgil and nearby Nakuru towns woke up to heartbreaking news. Utumishi Girls Academy had seemed like a place of promise for many families who sacrificed to send their daughters there. Now it stands as another painful reminder of how fragile safety can be in boarding schools. Seventy-nine students ended up hospitalised, some with serious burns, while others waited for word in makeshift areas nearby.
One distraught father, captured in videos from the scene, pleaded with officials. “You’re not telling us anything. I want to know where my daughter is. I don’t want stories.” His voice cracked under the weight of uncertainty that many others shared as they paced outside the gates.
This is not the first time Kenya has faced such losses. Similar dormitory fires in years past left deep scars and led to promises of better safety measures. Yet here we are again, with questions swirling about overcrowding, emergency exits, and quick response systems. Local leaders and education officials have pledged thorough investigations, but families want more than words right now.
Methu and other DCP voices used the moment to demand Murkomen’s resignation, framing it as part of larger failures in disaster preparedness. Supporters of the government pushed back, arguing that politicising the tragedy so soon disrespects the mourning process. They noted that Murkomen did reach the site and that multiple agencies, including the Red Cross and Kenya Defence Forces, helped contain the fire by around three in the morning.
As the sun climbed higher over the Rift Valley on May 28, the full human cost became clearer. Young lives cut short, futures erased in smoke. Parents clutched photos and school uniforms, hoping against hope. In churches and community halls around Nakuru and beyond, prayers rose for the departed and the injured.
The government has promised a full probe into the cause of the fire and any lapses in safety. For now, the focus stays on supporting the affected families and ensuring the surviving students get proper care. Yet the criticism of Murkomen’s delayed arrival has added fuel to an already emotional day, turning a school tragedy into a broader conversation about accountability at the highest levels.