Court Issues Fresh Directives on 9 Detained Utumishi Girls Fire Suspects

The Naivasha High Court has ordered that eight suspects linked to the fire at Utumishi Girls High School that claimed sixteen lives remain in custody for two more days as they await arraignment on murder charges.

The orders were issued on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, by Chief Magistrate Abdulqadir Ramadhan Lorot when the case came up for mention to review the progress of investigations and give further directions.

During the court session, the prosecution informed the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had approved murder charges against the eight suspects.

The prosecution team was led by Deputy Regional Coordinator for Rift Valley, Emmah Bosire, assisted by Naivasha Office in-Charge Emma Okok and prosecutor Joseck Abwajo.

Eight Suspects to Face Murder Charges for Utumishi Fire Incident

The prosecution told the court that the suspects will be charged with murder under Sections 203 and 204 of the Penal Code.

The court agreed to keep the eight suspects in custody to allow for their arraignment and plea taking on June 26, 2026.

Also Read: Utumishi Girls Founder Reveals Story Behind School and Burnt Dormitory Names

However, the court ordered the release of one of the nine suspects after the investigation showed she was not involved in the crime. The student will be released and returned to her parents.

The remaining eight suspects will stay in custody and are expected to appear in court on Friday, June 26, 2026, to enter their pleas for the murder charges.

Before their court appearance, the court will keep the suspects at either the Nakuru Children’s Remand Home or the Nairobi Children’s Remand Home.

DPP Approved 16 Murder Counts

The latest court decision comes a day after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Renson Ingonga, approved 16 counts of murder against the nine students implicated in the deadly Utumishi Girls Academy fire in Gilgil, Nakuru County.

Also Read: DPP Approves Murder Charges Against Nine Suspects Over Utumishi Girls Academy Fire

Each of the suspects is expected to face 16 murder charges, one count for each of the 16 students who lost their lives in the tragic fire that occurred on May 28, 2026.

The DPP approved the charges on June 23, 2026, after reviewing the investigation files submitted by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). According to investigators, there is sufficient evidence to support the charges.

Investigations, including the review of CCTV footage, allegedly show that the students started the fire by setting mattresses ablaze at different points inside the dormitory using matchsticks and paraffin.

The alleged motive was linked to frustrations over rescheduled examinations, school event charges, and plans to force an early closure of the school through protests.

The fire broke out in the Meline Waithera dormitory, which housed more students than its recommended capacity.

The blaze claimed the lives of 16 girls aged between 15 and 18 and left 79 others injured.

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Utumishi Girls Academy Dormitory that Caught fire. PHOTO/ The Standard.