DCP Calls for Resignation of CS Murkomen After Deadly Utumishi Academy Fire Tragedy
By Gedion Nzyoki -
- The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) has criticised the Government’s disaster preparedness following the deadly Utumishi Academy fire tragedy in Gilgil.
- DCP Secretary General and Nyandarua Senator John Methu called for urgent reforms in school safety and questioned the Government’s emergency response to the incident.
- The party also demanded accountability from senior Government officials as investigations into the cause of the fire continue.
Nairobi, Kenya | May 28, 2026 — The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) has criticised the Government’s disaster preparedness and response mechanisms following the deadly fire tragedy at Utumishi Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, which has so far claimed the lives of at least 16 students and left dozens injured.
Speaking on Thursday afternoon at the party headquarters, the newly appointed party Secretary General and Nyandarua County Senator, John Methu, conveyed the party’s condolences to the families affected by the tragedy while questioning the Government’s handling of disaster response in schools across the country.
“This morning, we woke up to the sad news of the fire tragedy at Utumishi Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County,” Methu said.
The party described the incident as a devastating loss to the nation and called for urgent reforms in school safety and national disaster management systems.
“This is a great loss to our nation and to the families who have lost their loved ones. No parent should ever go through such pain and ordeal. No child deserves to lose a future full of great potential. One death is one too many,” he added.
According to the Nyandarua senator, Kenya has experienced repeated school tragedies over the years, including incidents at St. Kizito, Kyanguli Boys, and Hillside Endarasha Academy, yet sufficient disaster preparedness measures have not been fully implemented.
“As the nation mourns, we strongly question the state of disaster preparedness in our country, especially in boarding schools,” the Secretary General said.
The DCP further accused the Government of failing to prioritise disaster management, alleging that the National Disaster Response Management Bill has stalled while schools and public institutions remain vulnerable.
“It is unfortunate that while the National Disaster Response Management Bill remains stalled under the leadership of the National Assembly, our children continue to face danger in schools,” the party stated.
Senator Methu also directly criticised Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, accusing him of failing to respond adequately to the emergency despite allegedly being informed about the fire during the night.
“We are reliably informed that the CS for Interior was notified of the fire tragedy at around 2.00am last night, but he failed to marshal government machinery and travel the one-and-a-half-hour distance to the scene,” Methu claimed.
He went on to call for the resignation of CS Murkomen and censure against the Education Ministry over the tragedy.
“We call for the immediate censure of the Education CS and the resignation of Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen over the deaths of our children at Utumishi Academy,” he concluded.
The fire tragedy at Utumishi Academy has sparked national concern over the safety of boarding schools and the state of emergency preparedness within learning institutions across the country.
The Ministry of Education has confirmed that 16 students died in the incident, while 79 others sustained injuries. Authorities say investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing as the process of accounting for all learners continues.
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