More than 10 students from Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil have been detained by police as investigators intensify inquiries into the dormitory fire that killed 16 learners and injured dozens more in one of Kenya’s deadliest school tragedies in recent years.

Detectives believe the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight on Thursday, may have been deliberately started.

The fire swept through the upper floor of a dormitory block, trapping students as panic spread through the school compound. Survivors described confusion, screams and desperate attempts to escape the smoke and flames.

Police sources involved in the investigation said several students had been isolated inside one section of the school, where they remained under police watch as questioning continued overnight.

Other learners who had already left the school with parents or guardians after the tragedy have reportedly been asked to return to assist investigators.

Authorities are now pursuing several lines of inquiry.

Among the claims under investigation are allegations that security lights in the compound are switched off nightly at around 10:10pm, potentially affecting visibility during emergencies.

Investigators are also examining reports that the dormitory may have been locked from the outside when the fire started — a claim that, if confirmed, could raise fresh concerns about compliance with school safety regulations.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations is further looking into whether academic pressure linked to examinations scheduled for June 2 may have contributed to tensions within the school before the incident.

Officials have not yet publicly identified suspects or announced any charges.

At least 79 students sustained injuries during the fire and were taken to hospitals in Nakuru and surrounding areas. Authorities said many have since been treated and discharged, while others remain under medical care.

A government pathologist involved in the investigation said some bodies recovered from the dormitory were severely burnt, complicating efforts to identify victims.

Utumishi Girls Academy had 815 students enrolled at the time of the tragedy. According to the Education Ministry, 808 students were present at the school that night, while seven were away from the institution.

On Thursday, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba cautioned against speculation as investigations continue.

“Let’s not be speculative at this stage,” Mr Ogamba told reporters. “We have a school safety manual that all schools adhere to. Let’s wait and see if the manual was adhered to after the investigation.”

The tragedy has reignited painful memories of past school fires in Kenya and renewed debate about dormitory safety, emergency preparedness and student welfare in boarding schools.

Outside the school gates on Friday, grief still hung heavily in the air as parents, relatives and community members searched for answers about how an ordinary school night ended in catastrophe.