Grief and frustration as parents reject delay in releasing Utumishi Girls’ fire bodies
By Aloys Michael, June 6, 2026Families of the 15 students who perished in the tragic fire at Utumishi Girls Academy have expressed outrage over plans to delay the release of their children’s remains, saying the prolonged wait is deepening their pain and denying them closure.
The parents voiced their concerns on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at Naivasha Funeral Home after viewing the bodies of their daughters for the first time since the devastating blaze claimed 16 lives ten days ago.
While authorities confirmed that DNA tests had positively identified all the victims, most families were informed that the remains would not be released immediately for burial.
“We are not happy. What the government is saying, we do not understand because we want the remains to be able to bury our children and get closure,” John Muiruri, a parent, said.
Muiruri, whose daughter Nicole died in the fire, said parents had been told that the government intended to hold a national requiem service on June 17 before releasing the bodies. He questioned why families who had already endured days of uncertainty were being asked to wait even longer.
According to him, the identification process had already taken ten painful days, and there was no justification for extending the ordeal, maintaining that once DNA results confirmed the identities of the victims, the remains should have been handed over to families without delay.
The emotional scenes at the mortuary reflected the magnitude of the tragedy. Relatives, many of whom had travelled from different parts of the country, broke down as they viewed the charred remains of their loved ones.
Some collapsed in grief, while others were overcome by shock and required support from counsellors and family members.
Before entering the viewing area, parents and relatives received psychosocial support from Kenya Red Cross counsellors to help them cope with the traumatic experience. Despite the preparations, many emerged from the mortuary in tears, unable to contain their anguish.
Another parent, Dan Parisoi, criticised the proposed memorial service, arguing that it should only take place after the students had been buried. He said families were already carrying a heavy emotional and financial burden and should not be subjected to further delays.
“We have waited for a long time, and that should be enough. It is hurting, traumatising and also expensive,” Parisoi said.
Only one family, that of 17-year-old Zuhura Rama, was allowed to collect and take home the remains of their daughter. The teenager was expected to be buried in Kwale.
The requiem mass
Speaking on behalf of the family, Sheikh Adam Ali said the delay had already disrupted Islamic burial traditions, which require the deceased to be laid to rest as soon as possible.
Ali also called for deeper reflection on the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, saying society must play a stronger role in guiding and mentoring young people.
Responding to the concerns raised by parents, Gilgil Deputy County Commissioner Stanley Langat acknowledged receiving complaints regarding the planned requiem service.
He said the government would hold consultations to review the decision and determine whether the bodies could be released earlier.
“The plan was to allow the parents to take the remains after the service, but owing to the complaint, we will have a meeting and discuss reviewing the same to an earlier date,” Langat said.
Government Pathologist Titus Ngulungu confirmed that DNA samples collected from the victims had been successfully matched with those of their parents, enabling identification.
On his part, Head of Forensics Joseph Kimani noted that the bodies had suffered extensive burns, making the identification process particularly difficult.
The county government also announced that all mortuary and postmortem fees for the affected families had been waived as investigations into the deadly school fire continue.