Kenya high court restricts media in trial of minors accused of Utumishi Girls Academy fire

A Kenyan High Court barred media coverage of the virtual hearing that began on 26 June, where eight girls charged with 16 counts of murder appeared from the Kabete Juvenile Remand Home. The defendants are accused of deliberately setting the dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil on 28 May, which killed 16 students and injured dozens. Lawyers debated mental‑health assessments for the minors, and the case was moved from Naivasha to Nairobi for security reasons.

Earlier, Chief Magistrate Abdulqadir Ramadhan ordered the release of one suspect, finding she was not culpable, while the remaining eight minors remain in custody pending arraignment. The Department of Public Prosecutions confirmed the charges and warned of a spike in arson incidents at Kenyan schools. The tragedy has revived debate over boarding‑school safety, overcrowding, and mental‑health support, with the government pledging a task‑force investigation but offering no financial aid to affected families.