The lawyer representing suspects accused of the Utumishi Girls arson case has argued that holding them for 30 days would amount to pre-charge detention. 
By Fredrick Kioko,
A heavy police presence was witnessed at the Naivasha Law Courts as nine students linked to the deadly fire at Utumishi Girls Academy were formally arraigned, just five days after the tragedy that claimed 16 lives and left the nation in shock.
The minors, whose identities were protected by the court under the Children’s Act, appeared before Chief Magistrate Abdulqadir Lorot amid tight security. Armed officers secured the courtroom as the suspects were escorted to the dock in DCI vehicles, in a hearing that attracted relatives of both victims and accused students.
The prosecution told the court that the nine are suspected of planning and executing an arson attack on the Meline Waithera dormitory on 28 May 2026. The blaze left 16 students dead and 79 others injured, with seven still receiving treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital due to severe burns.
Investigators sought a 30-day detention order at the Nakuru Children’s Remand Home, arguing that more time is needed to complete inquiries, locate witnesses dispersed across the country, and finalize ongoing forensic investigations. The State also cited heightened public tension, warning that the suspects’ safety could be at risk if released.
However, the defence strongly opposed the application, arguing that the minors were being held without formal charges. The lawyer representing the suspects maintained that prolonged detention would amount to pre-charge detention and insisted that justice could not be achieved through extended custody without charges being filed.
The defence further dismissed claims that the suspects could interfere with investigations, questioning the necessity of continued detention.
The court has reserved its ruling on the detention application, with the suspects ordered to remain at the Nakuru Children’s Remand Home pending the decision.
The tragic incident has triggered widespread national outrage and renewed scrutiny of safety standards in boarding schools across the country, as investigations into the cause and circumstances of the fire continue.
