Families confront horror as only 3 bodies identified after fire tragedy

Kenya Red Cross Society personnel assist a parent overwhelmed by grief after viewing the bodies of students who died in the Utumishi Girls School fire tragedy, at the Naivasha Sub-County Hospital Funeral Home, on May 30, 2026.  [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

Three days after the Utumishi Girls Academy  fire tragedy, parents came face to face with the full reality of the incident as they viewed the charred remains of their loved ones.

Some could not bear the pain and fainted, while others were left speechless as mortuary doors were opened for the families to identify the remains of the 16 students who perished.

The anguish was evident on relatives’ faces, with many visibly shaken as Kenya Red Cross staff moved in to provide support and counselling.

 

At the mortuary, emotions ran high as relatives, friends and even media personnel grappled with a tragedy that has left many unanswered questions.

Three government pathologists led the exercise during which DNA samples were collected from the bodies and their relatives as part of the identification process.

By the end of the exercise, only three of the 16  bodies had been identified, with the rest burnt beyond recognition.

Even after identification of the bodies, the families of the three will have to wait for DNA test results for all the bodies before the State authorises their release for burial.

This came as the government formed a joint committee to coordinate the burial arrangements after a mass service at a venue yet to be confirmed.

Relatives comfort a parent after viewing the bodies of students who died in the Utumishi Girls School fire tragedy, at the Naivasha Sub-County Hospital Funeral Home, on May 30, 2026.  [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

According to a relative Njoke Thimba from Embu, the bodies were badly mutilated, making identification extremely difficult. Thimba, who lost a niece, urged the State to expedite the identification process so that families can find closure and lay their daughters to rest.

“Of the 16 bodies, only three have been identified as the others were burnt beyond recognition, and we have been told that the identification process will take time,” he said.

He added that government officials had informed them that a funeral committee had been formed to work with the affected families.

One of the Muslim families was however left in a difficult position after identifying their daughter but unable to proceed with burial in line with their religious customs.

According to Sheikh Hussein Were from Gilgil, the family identified their daughter, Zuhra Ramah, but were still required to wait for DNA testing and postmortem examination.

Were said they fully respected the government’s decision but urged that the body be released so that she could be buried at the family’s home in Diani.

Kenya Red Cross Society personnel assist a parent overcome grief after viewing the bodies of students who died in the Utumishi Girls School fire tragedy, at the Naivasha Sub-County Hospital Funeral Home, on May 30, 2026.  [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

“We have been told that the DNA tests will take longer, and we are wondering why the delay, yet we have positively identified our daughter,” she said.

Another parent, Sheila Kipsion from Kericho, recounted the family’s agony after viewing the condition of the bodies. She described the experience as something out of a horror movie, noting that the remains were badly damaged and unrecognisable.

“The condition of the bodies tells the whole story and the pain that our children went through, and all that we are asking for is justice,” she said.

Her sentiments were echoed by another relative Lilian Kariuki, who termed the incident deeply painful, saying it may take years for families to come to terms with the loss.

“All that we are demanding is justice for the families so that those behind this incident can be a lesson to others,” she said.

A youth leader, Joseph Kuria, alleged that there was radicalisation in the school and called for vetting of students to prevent similar incidents in future. “Some of these incidents are caused by radicalisation and it’s time that the Ministry of Education addressed this issue before we lose more children,” he said. [e-mail]