By Nancy Oseur
Several images circulating on social media claim to depict authentic scenes from the fire tragedy at Utumishi Girls Academy. The posts claim the images show:
- Actual CCTV footage showing students involved in starting the dormitory fire.
- The condition of the dormitory after the fire.
- The students arrested in connection with the incident in court.
Users sharing the images claim they are genuine photographs and CCTV captures from events surrounding the fire that killed 16 students and injured more.
Background
Utumishi Girls Academy is a senior secondary school located in Gilgil, approximately 3.4 kilometres from the Nakuru–Naivasha Highway. The school was officially opened on July 15, 2021, by former Deputy Inspector General of Police Edward Mbugua as part of efforts to expand access to quality education for children of police officers and other Kenyans.
On May 28, 2026, a devastating fire broke out at Utumishi Girls Academy, killing at least 16 students and injuring 79 others. The tragedy shocked the country and sparked discussions on school safety and student welfare.
Investigators say CCTV footage captured shortly before the blaze provided leads, showing a group of students moving through the dormitory moments before the fire started. They reported that at around 12:10 a.m., five students entered the dormitory when most occupants were asleep, with the footage reportedly showing the students moving through the cubicles before proceeding further into the building. One of the students is seen attempting to conceal her face from the surveillance cameras while carrying a slipper, and according to media reports citing investigators, the slipper may have been intended to muffle footsteps as the students moved through the dormitory.
The footage further showed some of the students moving toward the dormitory exit while others remained behind. Investigators stated that the students were later seen striking a match before leaving the area. A second fire reportedly started near another section where mattresses were stored, causing the flames to spread rapidly.
By approximately 12:13 a.m., students inside the dormitory had begun waking up to thick smoke and flames. Panic quickly spread as learners attempted to escape the burning building. The fire ultimately claimed 16 lives and left dozens injured.
In the days that followed, numerous images began circulating across social media platforms. The images purported to show CCTV footage from the night of the fire, the condition of the burnt dormitory, and the students who later appeared in court in connection with the incident.
We examined the images to determine whether they genuinely depict events related to the Utumishi Girls Academy tragedy.
Verification
Image 1: Alleged CCTV Footage Showing Students Involved in the Fire
One widely shared post on X shows several students running down a staircase while dressed in school uniform.
The accompanying caption reads:
“Evil kids imagine this CCTV footage show 6 girls arranging mattresses before putting them on fire in Utumishi Girls Academy Senior School. One of the survivors has identified all the evil girls.”
The post claims the image is a frame captured from the school’s CCTV system and shows students involved in starting the fire.
However, a closer examination reveals several inconsistencies.
The image depicts students running outside a building and descending a staircase. Visible features include open spaces, railings, and stairways. The students are dressed in full school uniform and appear to be outdoors.
These details do not correspond with the information contained in the reported CCTV footage from the night of the incident.
Accounts from the actual CCTV footage indicate that the cameras captured movement inside the dormitory. The footage reportedly shows students moving through dormitory cubicles and corridors, with beds, mattresses, and cubicle numbers visible in the background. The reported footage focuses on movements within the building before the fire spread.
The circulating image lacks these critical features. There are no visible dormitory cubicles, beds, mattresses, or indoor structures that would be expected in footage recorded inside the dormitory. Instead, the image presents an entirely different environment.
Additionally, the timestamp displayed on the image does not correspond with the timeline reported by investigators. While the fire is said to have escalated shortly after 12:10 a.m. and become apparent around 12:13 a.m., the image bears a timestamp of 11:59 p.m.
The visual inconsistencies between the circulating image and the reported CCTV footage indicate that the image does not authentically depict the events it claims to show.
Image 2: Alleged Photograph of the Burnt Dormitory
Another image circulating on Facebook claims to show the interior of the dormitory after the fire.
The image portrays a burnt room containing several beds, intact mattresses, and a blue wardrobe. Although the room appears damaged, several items remain largely unaffected by the fire.
(AI-generated image of the interior of the dorm after the fire incident)
A comparison with authentic images and descriptions of the dormitory after the tragedy reveals significant differences.
Reports from the scene indicate that the upper floor of the dormitory suffered extensive destruction. Personal belongings, books, uniforms, mattresses, and other materials belonging to students occupying the affected section were completely consumed by the blaze.
Photographs from the aftermath show heavily damaged structures, including blackened and twisted metal bunk beds. The intense heat reduced mattresses to ashes and destroyed most of the property stored on the upper floor. Some surveillance equipment was also reportedly damaged during the fire.
(Actual images of the dormitory after the fire incident)
The circulating image, however, contains several features that do not align with this documented damage.
First, several mattresses appear intact despite reports that mattresses in the affected area were destroyed by the fire. Second, a blue wardrobe appears prominently within the room, yet such a structure is not visible in authentic images of the dormitory. Third, the image depicts only a small number of beds despite reports indicating that the dormitory accommodated approximately 220 students.
The arrangement of the room, the furniture that remained intact, and the condition of the mattresses differ substantially from verified photographs of the scene.
These discrepancies suggest that the image does not accurately depict the Utumishi Girls Academy dormitory after the fire and is being shared in a misleading context.
Image 3: Alleged Photograph of Students Appearing in Court
Following investigations into the tragedy, nine students were arrested and presented before the Naivasha Law Courts on June 2, 2026.
The students appeared before Chief Magistrate Abdulqadir Lordy, where prosecutors sought additional time to complete investigations into the fire.
Shortly after the court appearance, images began circulating online claiming to show the students involved in the case.
This post depicts images of six girls wearing school uniforms with their faces clearly visible. Social media users claimed the image showed the students who had appeared before the court in connection with the fire.
However, the image does not match the verified details of the court proceedings.
The students involved in the case are minors. Under Kenyan legal and ethical standards, the identities of minors appearing before the court are protected. Photographs from the actual court appearance show the students with their identities concealed.
The circulating image shows faces clearly visible, contrary to how the minors were presented during the proceedings.
(AI generated image of the students who appeared before court)
Furthermore, the image depicts six students, while reports indicate that nine students appeared before the court in relation to the investigations.
There are also inconsistencies regarding the clothing worn. The students had reportedly left school and returned home with their parents before being arrested. Consequently, they did not attend court in school uniform as depicted in the circulating image.
Another image shared on X (formerly Twitter) also purported to show the minors arrested in connection with the incident. However, unlike the authentic court photographs, the faces of the girls are clearly visible in the circulating image.
Post allegedly showing the students in court.
This raises concerns about the authenticity of the image. The students involved in the case are minors, and verified images from the court proceedings show that their identities were concealed to protect their privacy and comply with legal and ethical standards regarding the reporting on children.
Actual image of the minors in court.
Additionally, the image appears to exhibit characteristics commonly associated with AI-generated content. A comparison with other versions circulating online suggests that the same base image may have been reused with only minor alterations to portray different individuals. In several instances, nearly identical images have been shared while claiming to depict different suspects connected to the case, raising further doubts about their authenticity.
Screen grab showing AI images of the students in court.
The differences in the number of students, visibility of faces, and clothing strongly suggest that the image does not show the students who appeared before the court in connection with the Utumishi Girls Academy fire.
Reach and Impact of the Misinformation
One of the posts containing the misleading court image attracted significant engagement online, receiving hundreds of comments, dozens of reposts, hundreds of likes, and more than 150,000 views. The other post on students leaving the dormitory attracted 120, 000 views and 59 reposts.
The widespread circulation of these images demonstrates how quickly unverified content can spread during major tragedies. When images are falsely presented as evidence, they can misinform the public, fuel speculation, and undermine efforts to establish an accurate account of events.
Verdict
The images circulating online and purportedly showing CCTV footage of students involved in the fire, the interior of the burnt dormitory, and the students who later appeared in court are MISLEADING.
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