Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has joined Kenyans in mourning the deaths of students who lost their lives following a tragic fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Kalonzo described the deaths as a heartbreaking national tragedy, saying the country had lost young girls full of promise, dreams, and hope for the future.
“With a heart weighed down by profound grief, I join all Kenyans in mourning the precious lives of the young girls taken from us in the devastating fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil,” Kalonzo said.
The Wiper Party leader conveyed his condolences to the affected families, noting that no words could adequately ease the pain of losing children under such devastating circumstances.
“They were daughters, sisters, and friends; precious girls full of dreams, full of promise, full of life. Today, their families are shattered, and we weep together with them,” Kalonzo stated.
Call for Action Beyond Prayers
Kalonzo also extended his prayers to students injured in the incident, wishing them quick and full recovery as they continue receiving treatment.
“To the injured students, may our Almighty God grant you swift and complete recovery. And may you feel the warmth of a nation surrounding you as you heal,” he added.
The former Vice President used the tragedy to call on the country’s political leadership to move beyond symbolic gestures and take concrete action to improve safety in schools.
His remarks came as national leaders gathered for the National Prayer Breakfast, an annual event that brings together political and religious leaders for reflection and prayer.
Kalonzo urged leaders not to allow the day’s prayers to end there but instead translate them into decisive interventions aimed at preventing similar tragedies in learning institutions.
“Let today’s prayers not end in that hall. Let them translate into urgent and decisive action,” he said.
Leadership Under Scrutiny
According to Kalonzo, leaders will ultimately be judged not by speeches or public displays of sympathy, but by the measures they put in place to protect vulnerable children.
“As leaders, we will be judged not by what we said in prayer this morning, but by what we did for the least of these in the days that follow,” he stated.
He further called for renewed commitment toward school safety standards, saying the country must honour the lives lost through meaningful reforms and stronger protection measures for students across the country.
“Let us honour these young lives not merely with tears and tributes, but with action that ensures no other family endures this unbearable pain,” he said.
