Utumishi Academy fire: One student released as Court extends detention of 8 for investigation

• One student linked to the Utumishi Girls Academy fire tragedy has been released after investigations cleared her of any involvement in the fatal incident.

• The court ordered her immediate release and directed that she be handed over to her parents, offering relief to at least one family affected by the disturbing incident.

One student linked to the Utumishi Girls High School fire tragedy has been released after investigations cleared her of any involvement in the fatal incident.

In a statement, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) said the court ordered her immediate release and directed that she be handed over to her parents, offering relief to at least one family affected by the disturbing incident.

Chief Magistrate Abdulqadir Ramadhan Lorot issued the order after the prosecution confirmed that investigations had established the student bore no culpability in the commission of the offence.

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“The court, however, ordered the release of one of the suspects and directed that she be handed over to her parents after investigations established that she was not culpable in the commission of the offence,” the ODPP stated.

The ODPP has not clarified the circumstances that led to the one student being released without charge, despite the matter attracting significant public interest.

Meanwhile, eight other suspects remain in custody after a court extended their detention by two days to allow for their formal arraignment on murder charges.

The prosecution, led by Deputy Regional Coordinator for the Rift Valley, Emmah Bosire, informed the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions had already approved the charges before the case was presented.

The matter was mentioned before Chief Magistrate Lorot for purposes of confirming the progress of investigations and issuing further directions on the way forward.

“The remaining eight suspects will remain in lawful custody and are expected to appear before court on 26th June 2026 to take plea on the murder charges,” stated ODPP.

Pending their arraignment, the court ordered that they be held at either the Nakuru or Nairobi Children’s Remand Home.

By Frank Mugwe