- A devastating 3am fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil claimed 16 lives and left more than 70 students injured
- A viral video showed a shirtless, distressed parent demanding urgent answers about his daughter’s fate, insisting he only wanted to know if she was dead, injured, or in hospital
- Kenyans online criticized authorities for poor crisis communication, calling for faster victim identification, clearer updates, and psychological support for traumatised parents
A public outrage among Kenyans has erupted after a video showing a distressed, shirtless parent demanding answers following the Utumishi Girls Academy dormitory fire tragedy.
Source: UGC
The 3 am fire has claimed the lives of 16 students and left more than 70 injured from the tragedy.
Which information did the shirtless parent seek from the authorities?
In the emotional clip making rounds on social media, the father is seen pleading with officers and officials to be told the truth about his daughter’s whereabouts.
Read also
Utumishi Girls: Heartbreaking scenes as parent attempts to enter dormitory destroyed by fire
He insisted that he wanted to know whether she was injured, dead or in hospital.
“Give me a break; I want to check whether my daughter is among the dead aor at the hospital,period. Stop lecturing me; I don’t want stories,” he said.
Watch the video below:
How did Kenyans react to the mishandling of the shirtless parent?
The incident has sparked heated reactions online, with many Kenyans criticising authorities and calling for better crisis communication as well as faster victim identification to ease the suffering of the affected families.
Below are some of the comments:
Kathy Cate Kilungya stated:
“Red Cross should be on the ground to offer counselling services; these parents are traumatised.”
WinnieSpeaks wrote:
“And when leaders go silent or hide during moments of pain, it only deepens fear, anger, and confusion. In times like the Utumishi Girls situation, people need truth, presence, and reassurance, not silence.”
Read also
Utumishi Girls closed, students sent home as probe begins into fire that killed 16
Stephen M. Ndungu stated:
“The school is 200 m from NYS barracks… actually inapakana na nys barracks 5 minutes from anti stock theft headquarters. 10 minutes from the 1st army barracks 10 minutes from 2nd barracks 15 minutes from the 3rd army barracks. They have a watchman and police in the compound.”
Khanakhaseveve stated:
“That is too long to offer any feedback. A disaster of such magnitude needs a quick roll call of those alive and uninjured first, and clear them. Then communicate that the remaining one is either injured or dead. Give clarity quickly because that anxiety is another death.”
Omushevi stated:
“I agree with him, it doesn’t need to take more than 30 minutes to know the number of bodies found in that dormitory, the one in hospitals and the one safe in school. Mimi nitakupiga ngumi hapo uniondokee wee pepo,Mtoto ni wangu ama ni wako? I can feel that parents’ pain.”
Read also
Utumishi Girls Fire: Devastated dad disrupts police address, falls on ground crying to see daughter
Gilead_1 stated:
“It’s a matter of clear communication. Those involved in the rescue and identification should occasionally give feedback on the progress, but not keep anxious parents in the dark.”
Wainaina said:
“Do you guys really see the pain in this parent? The government should never joke in such situations.”
Source: Getty Images
Father attempts to enter the burnt dormitory at Utumishi Girls
In a related story, the distressed father attempted to enter the burnt dormitory at the Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, to look for his daughter.
He was seen trying to force his way into the building while other concerned individuals tried to restrain him.
Source: NGBREAKINGNEWS
