Cecilia Wanjiku, a Form Three student, was among those who perished in the deadly inferno at Utumishi Girls Senior School.
Hailing from Kambi Somali in Gilgil, Wanjiku scored an impressive 399 marks in her KCPE examinations at Gilgil Highway Primary School before joining Karima Girls. She later transferred to Utumishi Girls School.
According to the school's principal, Joycelene Muraguri, she was one of the best-performing students.
Utumishi fire: Families begin painful process of identifying loved ones
"She was one of the school’s best science students, consistently achieving top grades, with her lowest mean grade being a B+," revealed Ms Muraguri.
"She had been selected to represent the school in a biology contest at Amref University on June 6," she added.
The Nation learnt that Wanjiku lost her life while courageously trying to save other students during the tragedy.
A distress parent is consoled by her relatives at the gate to Utumishi Girls Senior School in Gilgil, Nakuru County on May 29, 2026.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
"Her bravery, brilliance and selflessness will forever remain in our hearts and in the hearts of all whose lives she touched," said one of her teachers.
On Friday, her devastated mother Elizabeth Wanjiru confirmed her death, describing her as her hope.
"I have not just lost a daughter, but my best friend. My life is shattered," said Ms Wanjiru.
John Muiruri, who is yet to come to terms with the tragic death of his daughter, said that he received a distressing phone call from his wife who resides in Gilgil Sub-County.
Before she ended the call, he urged her to rush to the school.
Despite spending the whole day at the institution on Thursday, they went home, uncertain about their daughter's whereabouts with more questions than answers.
Mr Muiruri said that he was forced to travel to Nakuru to help his wife in tracing their daughter Nicole Mitchell, a Grade 10 student.
A parents wails as she demands the release of her daughter at the gate to Utumishi Girls Senior School in Gilgil, Nakuru County on May 29, 2026.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
"After causing chaos and constant updates from the media, we were finally allowed to get into the school. They broke the news; I was told my child was part of the 16 who perished. We have been running up and down; I was told I should avail myself at Naivasha sub-county mortuary where samples will be taken for DNA, but we were later referred back to the school. We have been told to wait for four days to get results," he said.
Mr Muiruri said that Mitchell joined the school early this year after completing her Grade Nine examinations at St Peter Gilgil.
He described his daughter as hardworking, humble and loving.
"It is a painful loss for us as parents, but we pray to God to give us strength. She was a bright student; she wanted to be a doctor just like me. I was expecting her to come for midterm or for the August holiday; sadly, I won't see her again, " he said.
Ms Sadia Gorbole, a relative to a Form Three student, Zuhura Rahma, said she arrived at the school on Wednesday and it was not until the evening that the news was broken. Zuhura was among those who perished.
Ms Gorbole, who lives in Gilgil town, said Zuhura's father had to travel from Mombasa for DNA samples to be collected, which will help in identifying the bodies before being handed over for burial.
She said after joining the school, she was selected to be a class prefect due to her discipline.
"We are Muslims, our religion dictates burial within 24 hours. We are torn between waiting for the four days. We have been told the results must be out before being given the bodies. We need help, the process should be fast-tracked," she said.
A burnt dormitory at Utumishi Girls Senior School in Gilgil, Nakuru County on May 28, 2026.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
Abigail Waithera Hinga was Form Three student at the school. Her family fears that she is among the 16 who perished in the tragedy.
According to her brother, Kimani Hinga, she was a brilliant student with a bright future.
Six bodies have so far been identified out of the 16 fatalities, according to the Kenya Red Cross contact tracing desk.
In a press briefing, PS for Basic Education Prof Julius Bitok said that all the students had been accounted for by Friday evening, including those in hospital and those who had died.
He announced that the process of extracting DNA samples from parents had commenced, and that post-mortems would begin on Saturday.
