Naivasha court frees one student over Utumishi Girls fire as eight face murder charges

Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, where a dormitory fire broke out in the early hours of May 28, 2026. (Photo: Courtesy)

By Carolyne Kubwa
Wednesday, June 24, 2026

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Chief Magistrate Abdulqadir Ramadhan Lorot ordered the student's release after investigators found no evidence linking her to the deadly blaze, while eight other suspects remain in custody awaiting murder charges.

The Naivasha Law Courts have ordered the release of one of the students who had been detained over the fatal fire at Utumishi Girls Academy after investigators found no evidence linking her to the incident.

Chief Magistrate Abdulqadir Ramadhan Lorot directed that the student be released into the custody of her parents, ruling that investigations had cleared her of any involvement in the May 28 tragedy that claimed the lives of 16 learners.

The decision reduces the number of suspects in custody from nine to eight as criminal proceedings against the remaining students move forward.

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During the proceedings, prosecutors led by Rift Valley Deputy Regional Coordinator Emmah Bosire, alongside Naivasha ODPP head Emma Okok and prosecutor Joseck Abwajo, informed the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions had approved murder charges after reviewing the investigation file submitted by detectives.

Based on the prosecution's submissions, the court approved the continued detention of the eight students to facilitate their arraignment and plea-taking.

The suspects are being held at the Nakuru and Nairobi Children's Remand Homes pending their court appearance.

The ruling comes days after the ODPP announced that it had found sufficient evidence to support murder charges against the suspects. Prosecutors said the decision followed a review of a preliminary inquiry file prepared by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), which has been investigating the cause of the deadly fire, believed to have been deliberately started.

By releasing one suspect while proceeding with charges against the others, the prosecution signalled that its decisions would be guided strictly by the evidence gathered during investigations.

The case has continued to attract national attention, renewing concerns over student safety and recurring incidents of arson in Kenyan schools.