“I Blame Myself” — Mbugua Reveals Dormitory Was Built Using Late Daughter’s Funeral Contributions as He Breaks Silence on Utumishi Girls Fire Tragedy

Emotions ran high during the requiem mass for the 16 students who lost their lives in the devastating Utumishi Girls Academy dormitory fire, as the school's founder and former Deputy Inspector General of Police, Edward Mbugua, delivered a deeply personal and emotional speech that has since sparked nationwide debate.

Addressing mourners at Gilgil Stadium, Mbugua took what many described as an unprecedented step by openly accepting responsibility for the tragedy. Fighting back emotion, he stated that as the founder of the institution, the ultimate burden of accountability rested on his shoulders.

“I blame myself,” Mbugua said, adding that the school's leadership, including the Board of Management and political leaders, had failed to adequately address the growing infrastructure challenges facing the institution.

He criticized education stakeholders for remaining silent as student enrollment surged under the government's 100 percent transition policy, arguing that schools were overwhelmed by numbers that exceeded available dormitory and classroom capacity.

In the most heartbreaking moment of his speech, Mbugua revealed the deeply personal story behind the dormitory destroyed in the fire. According to him, the building had been constructed using surplus condolence contributions received following the death of his daughter years ago. The structure was later named in her memory.

“The dormitory was built using money that remained after my daughter's burial expenses were settled,” he disclosed, describing the tragedy as a painful double loss for his family.

The revelation left mourners visibly shaken, with many describing the speech as one of the most emotional moments of the memorial service.

Beyond mourning, Mbugua used the platform to challenge Kenya's education system and call for urgent reforms. Citing the rising number of school fires reported across the country in recent months, he proposed a gradual phase-out of boarding schools in favor of well-equipped day schools located closer to students' homes.

He argued that children should not be forced to travel long distances or cross counties to access quality education, suggesting that existing dormitories could instead be converted into technical and vocational training workshops.

Mbugua also questioned the continued existence of single-sex boarding schools, saying society raises boys and girls together at home, yet separates them once they enter educational institutions.

His remarks have since ignited intense discussions across the country, with education stakeholders, parents, and policymakers weighing the future of Kenya's boarding school model and the urgent need to strengthen student safety standards.

As families continue to mourn the 16 young lives lost, Mbugua's candid admission and calls for reform have transformed a day of grief into a national conversation about accountability, infrastructure, and the safety of learners across Kenya.