As the country grapples with grief following the tragic fire that claimed the lives of 16 students at Utumishi Girls High School in Nakuru County, the National Parents Association (NPA) has urged Kenyans to refrain from rushing to judgment and instead focus on addressing the underlying causes of school disasters that continue to threaten learners across the country.
The Association has strongly opposed growing calls for the dismissal of Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba and Principal Secretary for Basic Education Prof. Julius Bitok, arguing that assigning blame before investigations are concluded will do little to prevent future tragedies.
In a statement issued in the wake of the disaster, National Parents Association Chairman Silas David Obuhatsa described the incident as a national tragedy that has devastated parents and families across Kenya.
“The loss of 16 young learners at Utumishi Girls High School is a national tragedy that has left parents across the country devastated. While Kenyans understandably seek answers, it would be unfair and premature to call for the dismissal of Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba and Principal Secretary Prof. Julius Bitok before investigations are concluded,” said Obuhatsa.
“School fires and other disasters have plagued our education system for decades under different administrations. What this tragedy demands is not political scapegoating but a comprehensive national conversation on learner safety, disaster preparedness, mental health, discipline, and parental involvement in schools.”
The devastating inferno has once again thrust the issue of school safety into the national spotlight, reigniting concerns over the preparedness of learning institutions to protect students from emergencies.
A Recurring National Crisis
The Utumishi Girls tragedy is the latest in a long list of school fire incidents that have shaken Kenya’s education sector over the years.
Perhaps the most painful memory remains the 2001 Kyanguli Secondary School fire in Machakos County, where 67 students lost their lives after fellow students allegedly set a dormitory ablaze. The tragedy remains one of the deadliest school disasters in the country’s history.
Since then, dozens of schools have experienced fires, many linked to student unrest, examination pressure, disciplinary disputes, poor infrastructure, electrical faults, and inadequate safety measures.
In 2016 alone, more than 100 schools across the country were affected by fire incidents, prompting concerns about growing indiscipline among learners and weaknesses in school management systems.
Recent years have also witnessed cases of dormitory fires, collapsing buildings, drowning incidents during school activities, fatal road accidents involving school buses, and accidents linked to unsafe sanitation facilities.
Education experts have repeatedly warned that many schools remain vulnerable due to overcrowding, inadequate emergency exits, insufficient firefighting equipment, and limited disaster preparedness training.
Calls for Calm and Thorough Investigations
The National Parents Association has cautioned against politicizing the Utumishi Girls tragedy, insisting that investigators should be allowed to establish the exact cause of the fire before conclusions are drawn.
The Association noted that while the Ministry of Education bears overall responsibility for the sector, disasters of this nature often involve multiple factors that require careful examination.
“We cannot target the CS and the PS without reason. Though they are in charge of the Ministry, they are also parents and fellow Kenyans experiencing the same pain and grief being felt across the country. These are senior public officers who deserve our prayers and support as investigations continue,” the Association stated.
The NPA further called on investigators to determine whether there were individuals within the institution who may have contributed to or incited actions that resulted in the tragedy.
Parents Demand a Bigger Role
At the center of the Association’s concerns is what it describes as the continued exclusion of parents from critical discussions affecting learner welfare and safety.
Obuhatsa argued that parents possess valuable firsthand insights into the challenges facing learners and should play a more active role in shaping education policies.
“Parents are not mere spectators in the education sector. We are primary stakeholders whose voices must be heard in shaping policies that affect the welfare and safety of our children. This heartbreaking incident should serve as a wake-up call for the Government, school administrations, parents, and communities to work together in strengthening safety mechanisms in all learning institutions,” he said.
The Association urged the government to strengthen collaboration between the Ministry of Education and the National Parents Association through key departments, including the Directorate of Field Coordination and Co-curricular Activities.
As the legally recognized voice of parents under the Basic Education Act, 2013, the NPA says it is well positioned to contribute to solutions aimed at improving learner safety and educational outcomes.
Push for a National School Safety Forum
In what could mark a turning point in the country’s approach to learner welfare, the Association has proposed the urgent convening of a national stakeholders’ forum on school safety and disaster management.
The proposed forum would bring together government officials, school administrators, security agencies, parents, mental health professionals, religious leaders, and students to discuss practical measures aimed at preventing future tragedies.
Among the issues expected to feature prominently are emergency preparedness, student counseling services, mental health support, discipline management, infrastructure standards, and safety compliance in boarding institutions.
The NPA believes such a forum would provide a much-needed platform for developing long-term solutions instead of reacting only after disasters occur.
A Wake-Up Call for Kenya
As investigations continue and families begin the painful process of burying their loved ones, the deaths of the 16 Utumishi Girls students have become a sobering reminder of the urgent need to strengthen safety systems in schools.
The tragedy has not only exposed vulnerabilities within learning institutions but has also reignited a national conversation on responsibility, preparedness, and the protection of children entrusted to the education system.
For the National Parents Association, the greatest tribute to the lives lost will not be the removal of public officials but the implementation of lasting reforms that make schools safer for every learner.
“The lives we have lost cannot be recovered, but we can honour their memory by ensuring that such a tragedy never happens again. This is a moment for unity, reflection, and action. Together, we must ensure that every child learns in a safe, secure, and conducive environment,” Obuhatsa said.
As Kenya mourns, the challenge now facing education stakeholders is whether the nation will finally confront the root causes of recurring school disasters—or continue to relive the same painful cycle of tragedy and outrage.
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