The family of 17-year-old Zuhura Rama Higa, one of the 16 students who died in the Utumishi Girls Academy fire tragedy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, has appealed to the national government to expedite the DNA identification process and release the victims’ bodies for burial.
Zuhura, a Form Three student, lost her life when a fire swept through the school on May 28, 2026, leaving families across the country in mourning.
Family seeks closure
Speaking at her home in Kwale County, Zuhura’s mother, Asha Omar Mazuri, said the prolonged wait for the release of her daughter’s body has intensified the family’s grief.
“I urge the government to hasten the process and release my daughter’s body to us. We want to bury her at home and give her the send-off she deserves. Without that, I will not find peace,” she said.
Mazuri said the family opposes any proposal for a mass burial and wants Zuhura buried at her ancestral home in Kwale in accordance with family and religious traditions.
Dreams cut short
She described Zuhura as a disciplined, respectful, and ambitious student who aspired to become a neurosurgeon.
“She constantly told me that she wanted to become a neurosurgeon one day. She worked hard in school because she believed in her dream,” Mazuri said.
The grieving mother recalled that her daughter called home on the afternoon before the tragedy and spoke with all her siblings, a conversation that has since taken on special significance for the family.
“She wanted to talk to all her brothers and sisters. At the time, nothing seemed unusual and we were happy to hear from her,” she said.
The night of the tragedy
She said later that night, at around 1 a.m., the family received news that a fire had broken out at the school.
Mazuri said they spent hours seeking information and hoping Zuhura had survived.
“Deep in my heart, I kept telling myself that my daughter was not okay. I held onto hope until the very end, but the news that followed shattered us completely,” she said.
Call for justice
She further called for thorough investigations into the incident and urged authorities to take legal action against those found responsible.
“Those involved should be held accountable so that justice is served and similar incidents do not happen again,” she said.
Zuhura’s uncle, Higa Hasibu, echoed the family’s appeal, saying the delay in completing the identification process has prolonged their suffering.
Hasibu emphasized that the family wants Zuhura to be individually identified and buried with dignity.
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“Every family deserves the opportunity to bury their loved one with dignity. We want to give Zuhura a proper farewell and honour her memory,” he said.
By Omar Shaban
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