Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko visited families of Utumishi Girls Academy fire victims at Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi on Sunday after a deadly dormitory blaze shocked the country. The Sonko KNH visit stirred emotional scenes as grieving parents sought answers while the former governor promised to pay funeral costs and hospital bills.
Tension was high outside the burns unit at Kenyatta National Hospital on Sunday afternoon as parents, students, and relatives gathered under grey Nairobi skies after the Utumishi Girls Academy fire tragedy.
Some cried quietly. Others stared at the hospital walls in silence. Then Mike Sonko arrived.
The former Nairobi governor walked through the crowded corridors surrounded by aides and supporters before meeting injured students and grieving families affected by the fire that tore through the school dormitory earlier this weekend.
His visit quickly drew attention across Kenya after he publicly pledged financial support for the affected families. Sonko told parents he would cover funeral expenses, hospital bills, coffins, hearses, and other burial arrangements linked to the tragedy.
“I will stand with these families,” Sonko said during his address at KNH. “I will cater for all funeral expenses and bills from this fire incident. We cannot leave these parents alone during this painful moment.” Several relatives broke down as he spoke.
The fire at Utumishi Girls Academy has shaken communities across Nairobi and beyond since reports of the blaze emerged late Saturday night. Emergency crews rushed to the school compound as flames spread through one of the dormitories, forcing terrified students to flee into the darkness.
Witnesses described panic, screams, and confusion. Parents began arriving at hospitals before dawn on Sunday searching for their daughters. Some carried blankets and bags. Others stood outside emergency wards glued to their phones waiting for updates from doctors.
At KNH, the smell of antiseptic drifted through packed hallways while security officers tried to manage growing crowds near the burns section.
One mother from Kiambu County wiped away tears as she described the terrifying hours after receiving a midnight phone call.
“I reached Nairobi around 3 am,” she said softly while seated outside the ward. “Nobody was telling us anything clearly. You just pray your child survives.”
Utumishi Girls Academy Fire Victims Receive Support
Families affected by the Utumishi Girls Academy fire have started receiving financial and emotional support from leaders, well-wishers, and local organisations.
Doctors at Kenyatta National Hospital continued treating injured students throughout Sunday as officials worked to identify the full scale of the damage caused by the blaze. Hospital staff restricted access to some sections of the facility because of overcrowding and rising tension among worried relatives.
By Sunday evening, groups of volunteers had started delivering food, bottled water, and blankets to waiting families outside the hospital.
Sonko moved from bed to bed speaking directly to some survivors and parents during his hospital visit. At one point, a father grabbed his hand tightly and thanked him for showing up while many leaders remained absent.
The former governor repeated his promise several times.
“I know these bills become too heavy for families,” he said in his speech to relatives gathered near the entrance. “We will help with coffins, hearses, hospital expenses, and funeral arrangements. Nobody should struggle alone after losing a child.”
His remarks spread quickly across social media platforms in Kenya, where many users praised the gesture while others demanded stronger action on school safety standards.
What caused the Utumishi Girls Academy fire?
Investigators had not released the official cause of the Utumishi Girls Academy fire by Sunday night.
Police officers and fire experts spent most of the day examining the damaged dormitory as education officials visited the scene. Burnt mattresses, twisted metal frames, and shattered window panes remained visible inside the affected building.
Residents living near the school said they first noticed smoke shortly before midnight on Saturday.
“We heard girls screaming for help,” said Peter Mwangi, a shopkeeper who lives near the academy. “People started running toward the compound immediately.”
The tragedy has renewed national concern over student safety in boarding schools across Kenya. Over the past two decades, Kenya has recorded several deadly school fires that triggered public anger and investigations into dormitory conditions, emergency exits, and overcrowding.
Education officials in Nairobi said counsellors would support survivors and affected families in the coming days.
At KNH, though, grief still overshadowed everything by Sunday evening.
Near the hospital gate, parents huddled together as rain lightly tapped the pavement. Ambulances continued moving in and out while relatives whispered prayers under dim security lights.
Inside the wards, doctors fought to stabilise injured students. Outside, exhausted families waited for answers they feared might never fully ease their pain.