Nine Utumishi Girls Academy fire suspects remanded as court set to rule on custodial bid

Nine students linked to the devastating fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil that claimed the lives of 16 learners will spend another night in custody as the court prepares to rule on an application seeking to detain them for 30 more days pending investigations.

The teenagers were today, June 2, 2026 presented before the Naivasha Chief Magistrate Abdulqadir Ramathan where prosecutors sought orders to continue holding them at the Nakuru Children’s Remand Home to allow detectives to complete investigations into the deadly May 28, 2026, dormitory fire.

The prosecution argued that additional time was needed to trace and interview key witnesses who are now scattered across the country following the school’s indefinite closure.

State lawyers also cited concerns over the safety of the suspects, saying the tragedy had triggered widespread public outrage.

“The respondents are facing serious offences, and the incident has elicited a strong public response. The safety and security of the respondents is in danger,” the prosecution submitted.

Lawyers representing the families of the victims supported the application, urging the court to consider the magnitude of the tragedy and the need to protect the integrity of ongoing investigations.

However, defence lawyers opposed the request, arguing that the State was effectively seeking pre-trial detention without formally charging the minors.

“We are opposed to the application. They are looking for pre-trial detention without any charges preferred against the minors,” the defence told the court.

Counsel for the students further dismissed claims that the suspects could interfere with investigations being conducted by multiple government agencies.

“Can the children interfere with government agencies involved in the probe? No, that is not possible,” lawyer Kipkoech Ngetich argued.

After hearing submissions from both sides, Magistrate Ramathan directed that the students remain at the Nakuru Children’s Remand Home and said the court would deliver its ruling on Wednesday, June 3, on whether to grant the prosecution’s request or release the suspects on cash bail.

The nine suspects were brought to the Naivasha Law Courts under heavy security in a convoy of five Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) vehicles.

They arrived dressed in hooded sweaters, balaclavas and other clothing that concealed their identities.

The court barred disclosure of the suspects’ identities in line with the Children’s Act and only allowed parents, lawyers and accredited members of the press into the courtroom. Live coverage of the proceedings was also prohibited.

According to court documents, some of the students told investigators they participated in the arson attack in protest against changes to the school’s examination timetable and what they described as mandatory contributions toward a cultural event.

They also claimed to have been influenced by a neighbouring boys’ school that had recently gone on strike.

Detectives say forensic analysis and CCTV footage indicate that the plan to set the dormitory ablaze was conceived at around 9 p.m. and executed approximately three hours later.

Investigators allege that the suspects assembled matchboxes, mattresses and paraffin before carrying out the attack at about 12:10 a.m. while other students were asleep.

CCTV footage reportedly captured a group of students entering the dormitory shortly after midnight before the fire broke out.

Homicide detectives believe the plot may have involved more individuals than those already arrested, particularly because of the alleged use of paraffin.

Investigators suspect the accelerant may have been obtained with assistance from outside the school and have not ruled out further arrests.

The fire left 16 students dead and 79 others injured. Seven learners remain admitted at Kenyatta National Hospital receiving treatment for burn injuries.

Police are investigating the incident as a case of arson and murder, with detectives from the DCI’s Child Protection Unit and homicide division continuing to interview witnesses and analyse evidence as they seek to establish the full circumstances behind one of Kenya’s deadliest school fire tragedies in recent years.