‘Meline Waithera’ is a dormitory at Utumishi Girls Academy where a fire broke out on May 28, resulting in 16 deaths and 74 injuries among students.
The incident, which investigators have classified as arson, has drawn national attention not only because of the tragedy itself but also due to the history behind the name of the dormitory and its connection to a prominent police family in Kenya.
The Meline Waithera Dormitory is named after Meline Waithera Njoroge, the daughter of former Deputy Inspector General of Police Edward Mbugua, who served between 2018 and 2023.
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In 2017, Edward Mbugua’s daughter, Meline Waithera, was knocked down and then sandwiched into another vehicle along Tom Mboya Street in Nairobi on June 17 in 2021.
A dormitory at Utumishi Girls Academy was named after the daughter as a tribute.
Utumishi Girls Academy is part of a wider network of police-sponsored schools in Kenya designed to support education for families within the National Police Service system.
Edward Mbugua played a key role in the development of the school since he was the founder of the institution.
As part of honoring family contributions and personal legacy, one of the school’s dormitory blocks was named after his daughter.
In addition to the dormitory naming at Utumishi Girls Academy, a memorial garden was established near the school compound in November 2022 to preserve her memory within an institution associated with her father’s contributions to public service and education.
Also Read: Tragedy as Parent Dies While Going to Confirm Child’s Safety at Utumishi School
The May 28 Fire Incident at Utumishi Girls Academy
On May 28, a fire broke out at the Meline Waithera Dormitory block at Utumishi Girls Academy.
According to the DCI, the upper floor of the dormitory sustained extensive fire damage, while the ground floor remained largely intact. The affected upper floor comprised 12 cubicles accommodating a total of 135 double-decker beds.
Preliminary investigations have indicated that the incident is being treated as arson. The fire resulted in the deaths of 16 students and more than 70 students injured, with seven in critical condition receiving medical care.
The incident has raised serious concerns over safety and security in boarding schools across the country, particularly those managed under public institutions.
DCI stated that it has conducted extensive interviews with students, teaching staff, and other witnesses as part of the probe. At the same time, forensic teams are reviewing available CCTV footage to help establish the sequence of events leading to the fire.
The investigative agency added that crime scene processing and documentation are still ongoing, with specialists working to determine the exact cause of the blaze.
This includes analyzing burn patterns, identifying possible ignition sources, and examining whether accelerants were used. Experts are also assessing the condition of electrical installations and the building’s structural fire dynamics.
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