Kenya court detains nine Utumishi Girls students in arson probe after fire kills 16

A fire devastated the dormitory of Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil on May 28, killing 16 girls and injuring dozens. Investigators say the blaze was started by lighting a mattress with a matchstick and paraffin, based on CCTV footage and forensic evidence.

A Naivasha court approved the Director of Public Prosecutions' request to keep nine female students in detention for 21 days. Chief Magistrate Abdulqadir Ramadhan ordered that the minors be held at the Nakuru Children’s Remand Home pending further investigation, with a hearing scheduled for June 24. The court barred media from publishing images of the detainees and guaranteed access to legal representation and child‑welfare officers.

Prosecutors are pursuing arson and murder charges, while DNA testing is ongoing to identify the charred bodies. Lawyers for the accused, including Hezron Mogire, argue that there are “no compelling reasons” for such lengthy detention. The incident has spurred a national debate on boarding‑school safety, prompting the Ministry of Education to launch inspections of similar institutions.