Court orders 8 Utumishi Girls Academy students to undergo mental assessment
By Zipporah Ngwatu, June 26, 2026A Nairobi High Court has ordered the eight Utumishi Girls students linked to the fire that left their fellow 16 students dead to undergo mental assessment by a child psychiatrist.
The orders came after the eight appeared before Deputy Registrar Barbara Akinyi virtually on Friday, June 26, 2026, for plea taking but did not plead to the 16 charges against them.
Akinyi has also directed that the eight be escorted to Mathare Mental Hospital on Monday, June 29, 2026, for the exercise.
“The subjects will be escorted to Mathare Mental Hospital on Monday, June 29, 2026, for mental assessment by a child psychiatrist,” Akinyi directed.
Further, the court has also directed that the mental reports be filed in court before the next mention that has been scheduled on July 1, 2026, before Judge Diana Kavedza.
Notably, she has also ordered that protection and care files be opened for all the subjects and that the relevant reports be filed within 30 days.
Dr Akinyi has also directed the Children’s Officer at Kabete Children’s Home to access the eight respondents’ assessment, which should be undertaken immediately starting today.
Meanwhile, the court also directed that children’s officers, guardians, and parents be present during the next appearance.
The court has also directed that each respondent (the eight students) be produced in court physically and each have counsel to represent them.
The Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) has lodged 16 charges against the eight persons of interest but asked the court to release the ninth suspect on grounds that they have found out she did not commit the offence.
The court heard that the prosecution did not find any grounds and that they have found out she did not commit the offence.
The matter will be mentioned on July 1, 2026.