Fresh details have emerged in the investigation into the tragic Utumishi Girls Academy dormitory fire that claimed the lives of 16 students, as detectives continue piecing together evidence surrounding one of Kenya’s deadliest school disasters in recent years.

Investigators probing the May 28 tragedy are relying heavily on CCTV footage that allegedly captured the movements of students believed to have been involved in the planning and execution of the fire.

According to investigators, forensic analysis of surveillance footage led to the arrest of seven students who are currently in police custody as homicide detectives intensify their investigations.

CCTV Captures Moments Before Fire Broke Out

The footage reportedly shows five students entering the ill-fated dormitory shortly after midnight.

Investigators claim the students were seen moving cautiously through the building, appearing to inspect different sections of the dormitory and checking whether other learners were asleep.

The footage allegedly captures the group moving through several cubicles before heading towards Cube 13, where detectives believe the fire originated.

Moments later, the students were reportedly seen leaving the area in a hurry.

Investigators suspect that kerosene may have been used to ignite the blaze, although forensic examinations are still ongoing to establish the exact cause of the fire.

Students Awakened by Smoke

According to preliminary findings, a few students woke up shortly after the fire started and raised the alarm, prompting frantic efforts by fellow learners to escape the rapidly spreading flames.

Witness accounts indicate that panic quickly engulfed the dormitory as students scrambled to find exits while thick smoke filled the building.

The tragedy left 16 students dead and dozens of others injured, sending shockwaves across the country.

Investigators Focus on Dormitory Layout

Authorities are also examining the structure of the dormitory as part of the investigation.

The one-storey building reportedly had five exits, including two main doors, an exit door and two emergency doors located on the ground floor.

Reports indicate that nine victims were discovered near one of the exits as students attempted to flee the inferno.

Investigators have also been puzzled by findings showing that the ground floor sustained minimal fire damage, with beds and students’ belongings remaining largely intact despite the devastation witnessed elsewhere in the building.

Outside the dormitory, remnants of the tragedy remain visible, including burnt mattresses, shattered windows and empty fire extinguishers that were used during rescue efforts.

Seven Students in Custody

Homicide detectives have confirmed that seven students are currently in custody in connection with the case.

Six suspects were initially arrested before detectives tracked down a seventh student in Nakuru County after she had reportedly been released to her parents.

The student was later taken back to Gilgil, where detectives questioned her as part of the ongoing investigation.

Murkomen Calls for CCTV Installation in Schools

As investigations continue, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has called on schools across the country to install CCTV surveillance systems to enhance student safety and help prevent similar tragedies in the future.

The government has also pledged to conduct a thorough investigation to establish accountability and determine the full circumstances that led to the devastating fire.

The Utumishi Girls Academy tragedy has reignited national debate about school safety, emergency preparedness and student welfare in boarding institutions across Kenya.