The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has identified seven students suspected of starting the fire that engulfed the Utumishi Girls Academy dormitory, killing 16 students.
In a statement issued on Sunday, May 31, the DCI said CCTV footage obtained from the school, alongside enhanced analysis at the Forensic Imaging and Acoustic Laboratory, enabled investigators to positively identify the suspects.
According to the agency, six of the seven identified students are among the eight individuals previously arrested in connection with the incident.
DCI identifies seven students linked to deadly Utumishi Girls dormitory fire that killed 16. Photo: Courtesy.
The seventh suspect had earlier been released to her parents, and efforts to re-arrest her are ongoing.
The DCI further noted that a detailed review of the CCTV footage, conducted jointly with teachers, confirmed the involvement of the seven students in the arson attack before they fled the scene.
Autopsy results confirmed that all 16 students died from severe burns.
The postmortem examinations were conducted at the Naivasha Sub-County Referral Hospital Mortuary by a team of pathologists led by Dorothy Njeri.
During the exercise, Kenya Red Cross teams provided psychosocial support to grieving families, who were also allowed to view the bodies of their loved ones.
DNA samples were collected from family members to aid in the formal identification of the remains, due to the extent of the burns.
The fire broke out on Thursday, May 28, at around 12:45 a.m., engulfing the dormitory and leaving 79 other students injured.
Investigations revealed that the dormitory suffered extensive damage, particularly on the upper floor, which was heavily affected by the blaze, while the ground floor remained largely intact.
Following the tragedy, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba dissolved the school’s Board of Management and announced disciplinary action against the principal and teachers linked to the incident.
The Teachers Service Commission has also launched its own disciplinary process over alleged lapses in safety and response protocols.
