Gospel singer, Francy Grace gives update of her neice at Utumishi Girl’s Academy

Gospel singer Francy Grace has confirmed that her niece is safe following the tragic fire incident at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County.

In an emotional update shared on her social media pages, the singer expressed gratitude after learning that her niece had survived the devastating dormitory blaze that has shocked the country.

“My niece is safe and sound. Glory be to God. Weeeh. We pray for peace. #UtumishiGirls,” Francy Grace wrote.

The singer, who ministers at Reverend Mary Lincoln’s Ruiru Priesthood Church, also shared photos of her niece dressed in the school’s red and blue uniform.

National tragedy at Utumishi Girls Academy

The fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil left the nation mourning after at least 16 students were confirmed dead, while dozens of others sustained injuries following the overnight inferno.

Reports indicate the fire broke out in the early hours of Thursday, May 28, 2026, while students were asleep in their dormitories. What began as a normal school night quickly turned into a deadly emergency as flames spread through the building.

Preliminary reports suggest the blaze started between 12:45 a.m. and 1:00 a.m., rapidly engulfing sections of the dormitory before authorities were alerted to the incident at around 3:30 a.m.

The fire mainly affected the Meline Waithera Block, a multi-storey dormitory housing approximately 220 students from Grade 10, Form 3, and Form 4 classes.

According to reports, the blaze began on the first floor before spreading quickly and destroying large parts of the building, making rescue operations difficult.

Emergency response teams drawn from the Nakuru County Fire Brigade, Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU), and the National Youth Service (NYS) were deployed to contain the fire and assist in rescue efforts.

The teams battled the inferno through the night before successfully containing it and preventing it from spreading to other sections of the school.

Authorities also launched a search operation in surrounding areas after frightened students reportedly fled the compound during the chaos.

Casualties and investigations

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba and police officials confirmed that 16 students lost their lives in the tragedy.

Investigators from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and forensic teams have since been deployed to establish the cause of the fire and identify the victims.

In addition, 79 students were reported injured, with some suffering severe burns and smoke inhalation. Most of those rushed to medical facilities, including Gilgil Sub-County Hospital and St Mark’s Hospital, have since been treated and discharged, while others remain under medical observation.

At the time of the incident, the school reportedly had 815 students enrolled, with 808 said to have been present when the fire broke out.