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Kiengei explains why girls named in Utumishi fire should attend burials of 16 who died
02nd June, 2026 05:27 PM
Jesus Compassion Ministry founder Bishop Ben Kiengei has weighed in on the Utumishi Girls Academy fire tragedy, calling for deeper reflection on grief and loss, and explaining why individuals linked to the incident should be allowed to attend the burials of the 16 students who died.
Bishop Kiengei made the remarks in the wake of the devastating arson attack that occurred at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, where 16 students lost their lives, and 79 others were injured after fire broke out in a dormitory housing hundreds of learners.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, Kiengei said that moments of loss carry lessons that cannot be fully understood from a distance, adding that witnessing grief firsthand helps people grasp the emotional weight of tragedy and its impact on families.
“Can the girls be allowed to attend these burials?? So that they can understand what true grief is…… Will their parents attend???” he wrote.
He suggested that those named in connection with the incident should be allowed to attend the burials of the victims so that they can fully understand the intensity of grief experienced by bereaved families and the wider community.
The bishop further stressed the importance of emotional awareness, prayer, encouragement and correction in dealing with such tragedies, noting that silence and avoidance should not replace reflection and accountability in moments of national pain.
“Reality hits when everyone goes silent on you, let’s not get silent about these deaths; pray, encourage, love and correct the involved,” he added.
He also questioned the broader silence that often follows tragedies, urging Kenyans to remain prayerful, supportive and emotionally engaged, especially when dealing with loss affecting young lives.
“A lot of questions… Generation 1990 to date, Someone is genuinely praying for you,” he shared.
Deadly fire
The Utumishi Girls Academy fire occurred on Thursday, May 28, 2026.
The incident took place at the school’s campus in Gilgil, Nakuru County.
According to investigations, the fire was started around 9:00 pm and was extinguished approximately three hours later, breaking out at around 12:45 am in the dormitory known as the Meline Waithera Block, which housed about 220 students drawn from Grade 10, Form Three and Form Four.
Out of 808 students present at the school, 16 girls died.
Pathologists established that 10 of the victims died due to suffocation from thick smoke, while six were burned beyond recognition, requiring DNA testing for identification.
Seventy-nine others sustained injuries, with several students suffering fractures after jumping from the upper floors in attempts to escape the flames.
Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) homicide detectives and forensic experts established that the fire was a deliberate act of arson. Investigations revealed that mattresses were used to ignite and spread the blaze rapidly inside the dormitory.
CCTV footage captured individuals accessing the dormitory area and initiating the fire. Following investigations, nine student persons of interest were apprehended.
In statements recorded by detectives, the individuals reportedly cited grievances, including changes in the examination calendar, school charges related to a cultural event, and influence linked to a recent strike in a neighbouring boys’ school, as factors behind the incident.
The nine persons of interest were later presented before Chief Magistrate Abdulqadir Lorot at the Naivasha Law Courts on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
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Steve Ireri
Steve is a senior writer with over four years of experience in digital journalism. His focus is on the showbiz and human interest stories. Emails: [email protected] , [email protected]
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