May 28, remains a red letter day of all times in the future of Utumishi Girls Academy, Nakuru County, a day when massive fire stole away the youthful lives of 16 girls.
The firestorm emerged at the dead of the night, in a Dormitory full of female learners.
On the said night, a total of 808 students were in school, 79 of whom were injured in the incident.
The tragedy, which is highly suspected to be an arson attack, has seen the detention of eight students who are under interrogation by DCI.
Reports suggest that a group of students deliberately set mattresses on fire as unrest loomed, with some teachers suspected to have been aware that there was a planned reaction by students.
Reports further suggests that there was a bad blood between the students and the school Principal.
How A Girl Braved Fire To Save Others
When flames ripped through Meline Waithera Dormitory, form three student Cecilia Wanjiku did not run out. She ran in.
Witnesses say she heard screams from the upper floor as smoke choked the two-storey building.
While others scrambled for the exits, Cecilia grabbed a blanket, soaked it with water, and cut through the raging fire toward the cubicles where sleeping girls occupied 135 double-decker beds.
Her classmates recall her voice cutting through the panic: “Follow me, low, low!”
She pulled younger students from burning beds, shielding them with her body as embers fell around them.
The first floor collapsed in flames, but Cecilia kept pushing toward the back cubicles until the fire trapped her following the unbearable heat.
Cecilia didn’t make it out as she died trying to save others. She is among the 16 students who succumbed to burns in the tragedy that has left the entire nation grieving.
The 16-year-old chose courage over fear, and sisterhood over survival.
