Nakuru County Governor Susan Kihika has revealed that both the national and county governments are working jointly to support families and students affected by the fatal fire tragedy at Utumishi Girls’ Academy in Gilgil.
Speaking during a press briefing on Thursday, May 28, Susan Kihika described the incident as a painful national tragedy. She noted that authorities are now prioritising student-parent reunions, survivor support, and victim identification.
“It is a very sad morning, as you have heard from the two Cabinet Secretaries for Education and Interior. We are working together, both the national government and the county government, to stand in the gap,” said the governor.
Kihika stated that emergency teams are treating the injured, while counselling services have been made available to affected students and families. She added that medical personnel continue to care for students hospitalised following the fire.
According to her, the response operation has now reached its most painful stage, as authorities begin the difficult task of identifying the students who lost their lives and informing their families.
“As we continue now to the more difficult part, which is figuring out those who have lost their lives and informing the families once we get to that point, we stand in solidarity with parents, the school, and the government,” said Kihika.
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She noted that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is investigating the cause of the fire to help prevent similar school tragedies in the future.
By Frank Mugwe
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