Kenya Red Cross personnel carry a parent of a student at Utumishi Girls Senior School after viewing the body of her daughter at Naivasha Sub-County Hospital Funeral Home on May 30, 2026.
There was a somber mood at Naivasha Sub-County Hospital mortuary on Saturday as families, relatives and friends of the 16 girls who lost their lives in the tragic fire at Utumishi Girls Senior School began the painful process of identifying their loved ones.
Meline Waithera Block B, a dormitory which accommodated 220 students in Grade 10, Form Three and Form Four, was burnt on Wednesday night.
On Saturday, the parents of the 16 victims, accompanied by relatives, gathered at the facility for the postmortem exercise as they comforted one another, united by a tragedy that has left the nation in mourning.
At least three pathologists have been deployed to ensure the process is completed as quickly and efficiently as possible.
The examinations are expected to assist in establishing the exact causes of death while facilitating the identification process, as they also await DNA results before the bodies are released to families for burial.
Outside the hospital mortuary, relatives sat in despair, some in prayer while others shared memories of the young girls whose lives were cut short in the devastating dormitory fire, leaving seven other girls hospitalised at a Nairobi hospital. Many parents appeared emotionally drained.
Kenya Red Cross personnel support a parent at Naivasha Sub-County Hospital Funeral Home on May 30, 2026, before the start of the postmortem and identification of the 16 bodies of the students from Utumishi Girls Senior School who perished in a dormitory fire.
Amid the heartbreak, there was also a sense of solidarity as strangers comforted one another, prayers were offered, and tears were shared as families faced one of the most difficult moments of their lives together.
Hospital officials tightened security around the mortuary area to ensure order during the sensitive exercise.
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.
Access to the facility was restricted to authorised personnel and immediate family members as onlookers were sent away.
Kenya Red Cross has also pitched tents where counsellors and support teams have been deployed to offer psychosocial support to grieving families.
Two ambulances are on standby in case of urgent medical attention.
Burnt beyond recognition
Speaking after viewing the bodies, one of the relatives, Mr Njuki Nthimba, said that only three bodies can be identified as the rest were burnt beyond recognition. He identified his niece.
A burnt dormitory at Utumishi Girls Senior School in Gilgil, Nakuru County on May 28, 2026.
He said that upon requesting the release of their niece's body since they had already identified her, he noted that they had been told that the bodies would only be released after DNA results are out and all bodies identified.
"We are here to identify the bodies of our daughters; no parent should go through what we went through today, viewing all the 16 bodies so that you can narrow down to your child is heartbreaking. Our daughters really suffered," said Mr Nthimba.
There is a tent that has been pitched at the facility. Those present disclosed that they were not allowed to speak to the media.
Most of the families coming from other counties are being hosted by relatives or have rented Airbnbs.
Director of Homicide Martin Nyuguto speaks to parents and relatives of the 16 students from Utumishi Girls Senior School who perished in a dormitory fire before the start of the postmortem and identification of the bodies at Naivasha Sub-County Hospital Funeral Home on May 30, 2026.
For instance, one of the relatives, Lilian Kariuki, who is from the coast, says that they travel 15 members from the coast region and some are being accommodated by relatives while others have booked an Airbnb and hotels.
They have been here since Thursday and will be here till the process is done and the body handed to the family.
Her dead relative’s name is Celestine Wambui, a Grade 10 pupil. She was a former president in their school.
Red Cross volunteers and Homicide detectives remove the bodies of the 16 students from Utumishi Girls Senior who perished in a dormitory inferno on May 28, 2026.
A detective privy to the investigation said that they are expected to complete collecting DNA samples from parents today, which will help in identifying bodies which were burnt beyond recognition.
The detective noted that the eight suspects who were arrested in connection with the arson attack are all Form Three students, adding that they will be taken to court on Tuesday.
"We are yet to complete collecting DNA samples, which will be transferred to Nairobi for matching. Monday being a holiday, the eight will be taken to court on Tuesday, where we will seek more days," said the detectives.
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