Utumishi Girls Founder Calls for End of Boarding Schools After Fire Tragedy

Edward Mbugua, founder of Utumishi Girls Senior School and former Deputy Inspector General of Police, called on the government to phase out boarding schools following a fire that killed 16 students. Speaking at a requiem mass in Gilgil on June 12, 2026, he urged converting dormitories into workshops and improving day schools. Mbugua accepted blame for the tragedy and also advocated for co-education. The Kenya Red Cross reported 47 school fire incidents since January 2026, 16 after this tragedy, with 187 people treated for injuries.