A family in Nakuru is mourning the painful death of their daughter, Cecilia Wanjiku, a Form Four student who reportedly died after sustaining injuries while trying to rescue other students during the deadly dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls Senior School in Gilgil.
According to the family, Cecilia is believed to have lost her life while bravely attempting to help her fellow students escape from the burning building.
Her relatives say she was among the students who showed courage during the chaos, trying to save others even as the fire spread rapidly through the dormitory.
Her academic journey was marked by excellence. She reportedly scored an impressive 399 marks in her KCPE examinations at Gilgil Highway Primary School before joining Karima Girls High School, and later transferring to Utumishi Girls Senior School.
At school, she was known for her strong performance in science subjects, where her lowest grade was a B+.
Just days before the tragedy, Cecilia had been selected to represent her school in a biology competition at Amref University scheduled for Saturday, June 6.
Fellow students who survived the fire described Cecilia as courageous during the incident, saying she tried to help others escape the burning dormitory even as panic spread.
They said her actions reflected her kind and selfless nature.
According to survivor accounts, the fire is believed to have started at around 12:10 am, shortly after students had gone to bed.
The dormitory was calm at the time before sudden screams from students woke others up, causing confusion and panic.
As the fire intensified, students were forced to react quickly.
Some managed to escape through windows, while others reportedly jumped from parts of the dormitory in a desperate attempt to survive.