Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has revealed that reviewing CCTV footage linked to the deadly fire at Utumishi Girls Senior Secondary School left him deeply disturbed, describing what he saw as one of the most troubling incidents he has ever witnessed.
Speaking on Saturday, May 31, during the Kipsigis Girls High School Thanksgiving Service and Prize-Giving Ceremony in Ainamoi, Kericho County, Murkomen said the footage showed students allegedly involved in starting the fire despite being among the country’s top-performing learners.
The Cabinet Secretary said the tragedy highlighted the need for schools and parents to focus not only on academic achievement but also on character development and discipline among students.
“I was reviewing the CCTV footage of Utumishi Academy, and I felt very sad. I even struggled to sleep because we could see the kids who were coming to light the fire, very brilliant kids, some who have got the best because it’s a national school,” Murkomen said.
According to the CS, the footage allegedly showed students consciously carrying out actions that led to the devastating blaze despite knowing that fellow learners were asleep inside the dormitory.
“But for them to just get paraffin and a matchbox and burn the dormitory, really, consciously seeing their colleagues sleeping there and walk out and leave them to die, that’s the most demonic thing I saw myself and I have seen,” he added.
The fire, which occurred at the national girls’ school in Gilgil, Nakuru County, claimed the lives of 16 students and left the nation in shock. The tragedy sparked renewed concerns over student discipline, school safety, and the effectiveness of preventive measures in learning institutions.
Murkomen emphasized that academic excellence alone should not be considered the ultimate measure of success. He urged students to cultivate positive values, integrity, and responsibility alongside their studies.
“As children and as students, as teenagers, you need to know that it is not enough to be brilliant. It is important to have the right character, the right attitude of learning, and the necessary skills that you need to navigate life,” he said.
The Interior CS also called on students to speak up whenever they become aware of plans that could endanger lives or property, warning that silence can contribute to preventable tragedies.
He noted that some students may have had prior knowledge of the planned incident but failed to alert school authorities or other responsible individuals.
“It is very sad, especially for those who lost their 16 children, that somebody somewhere did not do anything about the impending burning of the dormitory and they had information, and then 16 of their colleagues died. How will you feel?” he posed.
Murkomen encouraged learners to look out for one another and embrace a culture of reporting suspicious activities before they escalate into disasters.
“That is why I want to encourage these girls, if you hear one, two or three of you want to do something wrong, please don’t keep quiet. You will live with regret the rest of your life that, ‘I wish I shared this information because I would have saved a life.’ Let us be our own sisters’ keeper. Let’s be careful in the things we do together,” he said.
His remarks came shortly after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) announced a major breakthrough in the case. According to investigators, forensic analysis of CCTV footage led to the identification of seven students suspected of involvement in the incident.
The DCI said six of the suspects were already in custody, while efforts were ongoing to locate and apprehend a seventh student believed to have played a role in the events leading to the fire.
Meanwhile, post-mortem examinations conducted on the victims confirmed that all 16 students died from severe burn injuries sustained during the blaze.
Investigators have maintained that inquiries into the exact circumstances surrounding the tragedy are still underway, with authorities expected to rely on forensic evidence, witness statements, and CCTV footage to establish individual responsibility.
As the investigation continues, the tragedy has reignited national debate on student behaviour, mental health, school safety measures, and the role of parents and teachers in nurturing responsible young citizens.
The government has pledged to ensure justice for the victims and their families while implementing measures aimed at preventing similar tragedies in schools across the country.
