Kenya Holds Memorial for 16 Girls Killed in Utumishi Academy School Fire

—Mourners gathered in Kenya to hold a memorial service for the 16 girls who died in a dormitory fire at Utumishi Academy last month. The blaze, which broke out in the middle of the night, trapped students in a locked dormitory. School fires have been a recurring tragedy in Kenya, where investigations have repeatedly found that buildings lack fire escapes and emergency exits are routinely locked for security reasons. Families demanded accountability for school administrators and a national review of dormitory safety standards. The government has announced inspections of boarding facilities but critics say structural reform has been promised and undelivered after previous disasters.