Families of the 16 girls who perished in the Utumishi Girls Senior School dormitory fire are gathered at Naivasha Sub-County Hospital this Saturday, going through one of the most painful moments a parent can face, identifying the remains of their children.
Postmortem examinations are currently underway for all 16 learners who lost their lives when fire tore through a dormitory at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil on the night of May 28, 2026.
Before being allowed near the bodies, families are first receiving counselling from Red Cross teams on the ground, a measure aimed at preparing them emotionally for what lies ahead.
One family has already gone through that process. Geoffrey Ndimba arrived at Naivasha Sub-County Hospital to identify the body of his niece, Nicole Mitchell.
Accompanied by a Red Cross team, he went through counselling first before being led to view the remains. Speaking afterwards, Ndimba described the experience as devastating, saying no parent or family should ever have to face such a moment.
He confirmed that the task of identification is made harder by the condition of the bodies. Most of the 16 girls were completely burnt beyond easy recognition. Only two bodies remained visibly identifiable. The rest require careful examination before families can make any conclusive confirmation of their loved ones.
With his family having already completed the identification, Ndimba made a heartfelt plea to authorities. He asked that families who have already identified their kin be released immediately to go home and begin burial arrangements, rather than being held back to wait for the entire process to be completed for all 16 victims.
The Red Cross teams walking alongside families throughout the process have been commended for their steady and compassionate presence during what witnesses describe as deeply traumatic scenes inside the hospital mortuary.
The fire broke out at around midnight on Thursday, claiming 16 young lives and leaving 79 others injured. Eight students have since been arrested on suspicion of arson as investigations continue.
Survivors told investigators that the dormitory door was locked, leaving girls with no way out. Some jumped through windows in desperation while others were overcome before help could reach them.