The Democracy for the Citizens Party has sharply criticised the Government’s disaster preparedness and emergency response following the deadly fire tragedy at Utumishi Academy School in Gilgil, Nakuru County, which has so far claimed the lives of at least 16 students and left dozens injured.
Speaking at the party headquarters Nairobi on Thursday, DCP Secretary General Designate and Nyandarua Senator John Methu expressed condolences to the affected families while questioning the Government’s handling of safety and disaster management in schools across the country.
“This is a great loss to our nation and to the families who have lost their loved ones. No parent should ever go through such pain and ordeal. No child deserves to lose a future full of great potential,” Methu said.
The party described the incident as another painful reminder of the recurring school tragedies that have continued to shake the country over the years, including the St. Kizito tragedy, Kyanguli Boys fire, and Hillside Endarasha Academy disaster.
According to Methu, the repeated incidents expose serious gaps in national disaster preparedness and emergency response mechanisms, especially within boarding schools.
“As the nation mourns, we strongly question the state of disaster preparedness in our country, especially in boarding schools,” he stated.
DCP further accused the Government of failing to prioritise disaster management reforms, arguing that key legislation aimed at strengthening emergency response systems has remained stalled while schools and public institutions continue operating under unsafe conditions.
Methu also directed criticism at Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, accusing him of failing to respond swiftly despite allegedly being informed about the fire during the night.
“We are reliably informed that the CS for Interior was notified of the fire tragedy at around 2.00am last night, but he failed to marshal government machinery and travel to the scene,” Methu claimed.
The opposition party has now called for the resignation of CS Murkomen and demanded accountability from senior government officials over the tragedy.
“We call for the immediate censure of the Education CS and the resignation of Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen over the deaths of our children at Utumishi Academy School,” Methu said.
The tragic incident has once again sparked national debate over the safety of boarding schools and the state of emergency preparedness within learning institutions across Kenya.
The Ministry of Education has confirmed that 16 students died in the incident while 79 others sustained injuries. Authorities say investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing as the process of accounting for all learners continues.
