Glowing tributes for Moi Girls' fire victims

Moi Girls High School students hold potraits of their colleagues who died after their dormotory caught fire on September 2. Photo: Elvis Ogina, Standard

The grim faces were in sharp contrast with the Moi Girls High School mantra, 'Light and Life', as tearful parents and relatives offered emotional tributes to the nine girls who died in a dormitory fire two weeks ago.

Joyous laughter and girlish giggles were replaced by tired faces as both students and parents trooped into the school, whose playground was transformed into a prayer yard to mark an emotional farewell to the girls.

This was the most difficult day for teachers who instead of writing end-of-year report cards had to pen painful poems to capture the lives of young scholars who will never have an opportunity to fully exploit their potential.

United in grief, devastated Kenyans from all walks of life stood in silence as close family members walked to the prayer ground carrying nine portraits of the Form One girls.

The portraits of Natalie Asiko (15), Hannah Jeyisso Timado (14), Whitney Kerubo (14), Hawa Aziz (14), Esther Neema Onyari (14), Marcia Eunice Atieno Ogello (15), Nancy Wamuthere Thuku (14), Mary Jengo (16), and Alakiir Malong (16) were tightly taped down so that they would stand straight and even when the wind blew out the candles, teachers kept walking to the tent that stood in the middle of the field and lit them again.

When the prayers commenced everyone looked to the tent reserved for the bereaved families, where they all bowed their heads for most of the special memorial service.

The hymns were well chosen for the occasion and some parents broke down in tears when the first one, My Hope is Built, was sang.

Memorable moments

The grounds where families have in the past spent memorable moments during visiting and sports days was Thursday gloomy, just like the overcast skies whose pregnant clouds hang overhead without yielding any solace or warmth.

After the families sat down, girl guides who were carrying the portraits slowly walked to a white tent which had white flowers and candles.

Dressed in a blue jumpsuit, red scarf, and black sweater, Joyce Lemerelle - whose daughter Timado is among those who were identified through DNA - gripped her portrait and wept. She was unwilling to let go.

Amou Malong, who miraculously survived the inferno but lost her sister Alakiir, also clung to her mother, Lucy Ayak, since their father, a former army chief of staff, General Paul Malong, was thousands of kilometres away, locked up in his house in South Sudan.

On Monday, Amou, who suffered injuries on her leg, was overwhelmed when she tried to view her sister's remains at Chiromo Mortuary.

According to a cousin, Alakiir had woken her up during the fire and on their way out they lost track of each other and Alakiir decided to go back and check if she (Amou) was okay.

Alakiir, a class monitor, was eulogised by her class teacher as a heroine, a staunch Catholic, and a great asset to the basketball team.

"You heroically assisted some of your colleagues to get out of the dormitory. In death a saint you will be crowned," said the Form 1S teacher.

Alakiir's best friend, Natalie Nanga Asiko, was eulogised as a 'rising star' by her class teacher, Mr Omulupi.

Whitney Kerubo's mother, Stellah Nyangucha, held tight to her other daughter during the service, only letting go every now and then to wipe away her tears.

According to Whitney's friends, she had only reported to the school on the Wednesday before the fire after transferring from another school. Her teacher chose to quote author and poet Maya Angelou when eulogising the 'humble' and 'kind' girl.

Peace blooms

"And when great souls die after a period, peace blooms slowly and always irregularly. Spaces fill with a kind of soothing electric vibration. Our senses, restored, never to be the same," said Ms Mwilu.

When it was her turn to speak, Deputy President William Ruto's wife Rachel looked only to the tent of the bereaved families and talked to them referring to the book of Psalms in the Bible. She was overwhelmed my emotion and paused, fighting back tears.

"It is not easy and may God heal your hearts. Be encouraged that God is always faithful even when everything does not make sense," she said.

When the preacher started the service, the electricity went off and the speakers failed but the backup generator was started. Religious leaders from different faiths took turns praying to ensure the memorial service was all-inclusive.

The service, organised by the school, was also attended by Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang, and several legislators.

They made pledges worth Sh30 million for the reconstruction of Kabarnet dormitory and asked for help to raise the Sh8 million deficit.

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