Content creator and influencer Mylee Staicey has weighed in on the growing debate surrounding the installation of CCTV cameras at Utumishi Girls Academy in Nakuru following the deadly dormitory fire that claimed the lives of 16 students.
The discussion intensified after surveillance footage emerged as a key piece of evidence in the ongoing investigation into the tragedy. While many Kenyans acknowledged the role the footage played in helping investigators identify suspects, others questioned whether cameras should have been installed near students’ sleeping areas at all.
Responding to the criticism through her Instagram Stories, Mylee Staicey defended the school’s use of surveillance technology, arguing that the cameras were not placed in areas where students expected privacy.
“Guys, the CCTV cameras were clearly installed along the corridor and common area. They were not hidden. They were there for security and accountability,” she wrote.
Her remarks came as social media users continued to debate the balance between student safety and privacy rights in boarding schools.
Cameras at the centre of investigations
CCTV footage recovered from the school has become central to investigations into the fire that broke out in the early hours of May 28.
Detectives say the recordings helped reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the blaze and identify students suspected of involvement. Authorities have already arrested several learners as investigations continue.
The footage has also reignited a national conversation about surveillance in learning institutions, particularly within boarding schools.
Privacy concerns raised
Some Kenyans and human rights advocates have questioned whether cameras located near dormitories could infringe on students’ privacy and dignity, especially given that boarding facilities are living spaces for minors.
However, legal experts have noted that surveillance in corridors and hallways is generally viewed differently from surveillance inside private sleeping or changing areas.
Lawyer Willis Otieno recently argued that CCTV surveillance in dormitory corridors is not inherently inappropriate if proper safeguards, data protection measures, and access controls are in place.
“Hallways are not private spaces,” he stated, adding that surveillance in common areas is often intended to enhance student safety, emergency response, and accountability.
Another legal perspective noted that cameras may be permissible at dormitory perimeters, entry points, and public areas, provided schools comply with data protection requirements.
A wider conversation on school safety
The Utumishi Girls tragedy has prompted renewed scrutiny of safety standards in Kenyan boarding schools. Beyond the CCTV debate, education stakeholders have raised questions about dormitory conditions, emergency exits, infrastructure, and student welfare.
For Mylee Staicey, however, the focus should remain on the cameras’ purpose.
“They were there for security and accountability.”
As investigations continue, the conversation reflects a difficult question facing many schools: how to protect learners while safeguarding their right to privacy.
