Eight Kenyan students plead not guilty in fatal boarding school fire case

Eight underage students accused of orchestrating a fatal dormitory fire at a Kenyan boarding school have pleaded not guilty to 16 counts of homicide. The blaze, which occurred on the night of May 27-28 at the Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, claimed the lives of 16 students and left 79 injured.

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Eight students appeared before the High Court in Kibera (Nairobi), where they pleaded not guilty after being declared fit to stand trial.

The students appeared before the High Court in Kibera, Nairobi, after psychiatric evaluations deemed them mentally fit to stand trial. The prosecution opposed their release on bail, citing concerns about preserving the integrity of the trial and preventing potential retaliation or harassment due to the case's high public interest.

To protect the minors, the court ordered that the proceedings adopt a "child-sensitive approach." The judge prohibited the publication of any identifying information, including names, photographs, or personal details, of the accused girls and their families. They will be referred to anonymously.

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Their pre-trial detention will help preserve the integrity of the trial and ensure the proper administration of justice.

Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the fire. This incident has reignited discussions about school safety in Kenya, with the Red Cross reporting at least 37 similar incidents since the beginning of 2026. The Utumishi tragedy echoes past disasters, including a 2024 fire at Hillside Endarasha Boys' Academy that killed 21 children.

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No one should call them accused. We do not have any accused. They are girls. We will refer to them as minors.