By Fridah Mbuvi, June 12, 2026
First Lady Mama Rachel Ruto and Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba have arrived at Gilgil Stadium in Nakuru County to lead the joint requiem mass for students who perished in the Utumishi Girls’ Academy dormitory fire.
The First Lady is serving as the chief guest at the emotional memorial service, which has drawn hundreds of grieving parents, relatives, religious leaders, and members of the local community. The solemn ceremony honours 15 of the 16 students who died in the May 28 inferno, with one victim, Zuhura Rama, having already been laid to rest in Kwale County following an earlier release of her remains.
Fifteen hearses transported the bodies from Naivasha Funeral Home to the stadium earlier in the day, where families gathered for the mass before receiving the remains of their daughters for burial arrangements according to their wishes.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba reiterated that ongoing forensic investigations point to arson as the cause of the deadly fire. He said analysis, including CCTV reviews conducted through the National Police Service forensic laboratory, supports findings that the blaze was deliberately set.
Authorities have also confirmed that nine students are in custody in connection with the incident and are being held at a juvenile remand facility as investigations continue.
The Ministry of Education further highlighted serious safety lapses at the institution, including overcrowded dormitories and a locked emergency exit door, which investigators believe contributed to the high death toll by trapping students inside during the fire.
The government has pledged continued support for affected families as the country grapples with one of the most devastating school tragedies in recent years.
