Dr. Harun Issack Hassan, PhD Professor of Psychology, Governance and Leadership Expert./HANDOUT
The tragic fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru
County, which claimed young innocent lives and left many others injured and
traumatised, is yet another painful reminder that Kenya continues to fail its
children through negligence, weak governance, and poor enforcement of school
safety standards.
This was not merely an unfortunate accident. It was a preventable national
tragedy.
For decades, Kenya has repeatedly witnessed deadly school disasters involving
dormitory fires, unsafe infrastructure, overcrowding, and poor emergency
preparedness. Yet after every incident, leaders offer condolences, task forces
are formed, reports are written, and promises are made — only for everything to
fade away until another tragedy strikes.
The cycle of reaction without action has become a dangerous culture within our
institutions.
The most disturbing reality is that many school administrations remain silent
about dangerous conditions until lives are lost. Schools continue operating
with inadequate fire safety systems, overcrowded dormitories, poor emergency
exits, and insufficient disaster preparedness mechanisms. The laws and policies
already exist, but enforcement remains weak and selective.
The Utumishi Girls tragedy raises serious questions that the country must
confront honestly.
Where were the inspections?
Were safety standards being enforced?
Who approved the facilities?
Why are previous recommendations from past school disasters never fully
implemented?
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and the Principal Secretary must take
responsibility and explain to Kenyans why similar tragedies continue recurring
despite years of investigations and policy recommendations. Leadership must go
beyond public mourning and media statements. Accountability must be visible,
lawful, and immediate.
The psychological damage caused by such tragedies is equally devastating and
often ignored.
Survivors of traumatic school incidents frequently suffer long-term emotional
consequences, including anxiety, depression, nightmares, panic attacks,
survivor’s guilt, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many learners may
never again feel safe in boarding schools or educational institutions.
Parents also carry permanent emotional scars. The horror of receiving
late-night phone calls, rushing to schools in panic, and searching for children
during chaos leaves lifelong trauma. Entire communities become emotionally
wounded.
Yet once media attention fades, psychological support often disappears too.
Kenya must begin treating school disasters not only as safety failures but also
as national mental health emergencies. Long-term trauma counselling and
psychosocial support should become mandatory after such incidents.
Unfortunately, the Utumishi Girls tragedy is not isolated.
Kenyans still remember the Kyanguli Secondary School fire of 2001 that killed
67 students. The Moi Girls School fire in Nairobi claimed ten young lives in
2017. Bombolulu Girls, Asumbi Girls, and several other schools have also
experienced deadly fires and disasters. Recently, the Hillside Endarasha
Academy tragedy once again exposed the country’s inability to protect learners.
Each time, investigations are conducted. Each time, recommendations are made.
And each time, implementation weakens with time.
This raises a painful national question: Do we truly care about the loss of
innocent lives, or do these tragedies only matter while they dominate news
headlines?
As a society, we have normalised mourning without demanding lasting reform.
Public outrage fades too quickly. Leaders move on too quickly. Institutions
return to business as usual too quickly.
The death of children in schools should never become routine.
Kenya must urgently implement decisive measures:
• Conduct independent nationwide safety audits in all boarding schools.
• Prosecute individuals found responsible for negligence.
• Enforce mandatory fire safety systems and emergency exits.
• Carry out regular emergency drills in schools.
• Eliminate overcrowded dormitories and unsafe facilities.
• Provide permanent mental health support for affected learners and families.
• Publish annual school safety compliance reports.
• Ensure Parliament monitors implementation of all previous task force
recommendations.
The lives of Kenyan children cannot continue being reduced to statistics.
The Utumishi Girls tragedy must become a turning point. The country owes its
children more than sympathy. It owes them protection, dignity, accountability,
and safety.
If meaningful reforms are not implemented now, future school disasters will no
longer be viewed as accidents. They will be acts of collective negligence by
institutions entrusted with the lives of innocent children.
The memories of those lost must not fade into headlines and forgotten reports.
Their deaths must force this nation to finally act.
The writer is a PhD Professor of Psychology, Governance and Leadership Expert
