Court Orders Mental Health Assessments for Eight Utumishi Girls' Murder Suspects Before Plea
News Updated: 26 June 2026 15:37 EAT
Eight students accused over the fatal dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls Academy will undergo mental health assessments before taking plea on 16 counts of murder, after the High Court in Nairobi directed that psychiatric evaluations be conducted to determine their fitness to stand trial. The court also ordered that the minors remain in custody at the Nairobi Children's Remand Home in Kabete pending the completion of the assessments.
The eight suspects are accused of involvement in the May 28, 2026, fire at the Gilgil-based school that claimed the lives of 16 students and left several others injured. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) approved 16 murder charges against each of the accused following investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), which concluded that there was sufficient evidence to prosecute them.
During Friday's proceedings, the court further directed that age assessment reports be prepared for all the accused, who are minors, before plea-taking can proceed. The assessments are intended to ensure compliance with legal safeguards governing criminal proceedings involving children.
The prosecution told the court that investigations into the deadly fire had been substantially completed and that the evidence gathered warranted murder charges. State prosecutors argued that the psychiatric evaluations were a necessary procedural step before the case could advance to the plea stage.
The case was transferred from Naivasha to Nairobi after the prosecution raised concerns over the security of the accused. Authorities told the court that intelligence reports indicated heightened public emotions surrounding the tragedy, making Nairobi a more suitable venue to guarantee the safety of the minors and all parties involved in the proceedings.
The High Court ordered that the eight students remain at the Nairobi Children's Remand Home until the psychiatric and age assessment reports are filed. The court is expected to set a date for plea-taking once the evaluations have been completed and submitted.
Earlier in the investigations, a ninth student who had initially been arrested was released after prosecutors determined that there was insufficient evidence linking her to the dormitory fire. The court ordered that she be released into the custody of her parents or guardians.
Investigators allege that the fire started after a mattress was deliberately set ablaze inside the dormitory. Reports indicate that the fire spread rapidly through the crowded building, while evacuation efforts were hindered after an emergency exit was reportedly not opened, forcing many students to escape through a single doorway.
The deaths of the 16 students marked one of Kenya's deadliest school fire tragedies in recent years, prompting renewed scrutiny of safety standards in boarding schools. The incident has also intensified calls for stricter enforcement of fire safety regulations and improved emergency preparedness in learning institutions across the country.
Tags: Editor's Pick Signs Signs Media Kenya Limited Signsmedia Signstv Signstvkenya Deaths Edit Editors choice Education Education Ministry High Court Law Court Ministry Of Education Rest In Peace Utumishi Girls Academy
Share this article
FELIX MAKONA
FACT FINDER AND DATA DRIVEN JOURNALIST. DATA MINING AT IT'S BEST. GET FACTS RANGING FROM MATTERS DISABILITY AND INCLUSION, POLITICS, ECONOMY, SPORTS AND GENERAL NEWS AROUND THE WORLD