Government has announced raft of measures that is taking to cushion the family that lost their children in the Utumishi Girls Academy dormitory fire by footing hospital bills and catering all funeral related expenses including morgue charges
While giving weekly updates at Harambee Annex on Monday 8th, Government Spokesperson Dr Isaac Mwaura said the recent school strikes reflect rising cases of indiscipline, destruction of property and disruption of learning, warning that the situation risks undermining gains made in the education sector.
He said incidents of arson, violence and damage to school facilities have become increasingly worrying, raising questions about the values and support systems available to young people.
Mwaura stressed that the unrest is not solely an education issue but a reflection of broader societal pressures affecting families.
“A growing wave of student unrest across the country has triggered fresh concern about discipline and the welfare of learners. Recent school strikes point to deeper social challenges that require urgent intervention from parents, teachers and the wider community. Destruction of school property, disruption of learning and rising cases of indiscipline are becoming a worrying trend that threatens to undermine the gains made in the education sector,” he stated while addressing pertinent issues affecting the nation
About the progress surrounding inferno that engulfed Utumishi Girls Academy, Mwaura said each family that lost their loved one will receive a token of Sh200,000 as part of a compensation package following the tragedy.
“The government is committed to meeting all medical expenses incurred at both hospitals and paying Sh200,000 to each bereaved family, including the family of the parent who tragically lost her life while coming to pick her child,” Mwaura stated.
However, Mwaura has cautioned parents from soft parenting by calling their children sweet names and giving them latitude to decide what they want because such has contributed to school unrest of students demanding their decisions, not rights to be followed by school’s administration
He confirmed that the government will finance all funeral-related arrangements for the victims including provision of coffins, transport of the remains, and costs for a memorial or requiem service to be held at Utumishi Girls Academy at a later
Mwaura stated that the state will extend the financial support to all 16 families affected by the fatal blaze that occurred at Utumishi Girls Academy dormitory, as well as the family of a parent who died in a separate road accident while rushing to the institution to check on her child’s safety. We are also checking on her husband
He further confirmed that the government will shoulder the full cost of treatment for more than 79 students who were hospitalised after the incident, many of whom were transferred for advanced medical care.
“Some of students were airlifted to Kenyatta National Hospital have been treated and discharged but there are few who still in hospital. Disturbingly, three shall be forced to use wheelchairs but the government remains firmly engaged with the affected families and the school community as recovery efforts continue,’’. he stated
Mwaura said the government continues to stand in solidarity with the families and the entire Utumishi Girls Academy community following the tragic fire incident that claimed the lives of 16 students and one parent, while leaving several others injured
According to the report read by Gov’t Spoks, several of the injured students were first treated at St Joseph Hospital before being airlifted to Kenyatta National Hospital for specialised treatment, with the government taking responsibility for all related expenses.
He dismissed claims that the State had failed to honour its commitments, insisting that all pledges remain active and are being processed through the appropriate administrative and legal channels.
“The National Government, working together with the County Government, remains fully committed to all the undertakings made to the affected families, contrary to claims from sections of the media. The government is undertaking the necessary administrative and legal procedures to ensure full fulfilment of these commitments,” he said.
The process of identifying the 16 students who died in the Utumishi Girls Academy dormitory fire has already been completed, paving the way for burial arrangements more than a week after the tragedy shocked the nation
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‘‘Some of this indiscipline we see happening in our schools was never in our times. How can students plan when exam will be conducted and if doesn’t work as they wish they plan to destroy school properties. I am not calling for corporal punishment but they way some of these kids have been raises is wanting,’’ Mwaura wondered