Utumishi fire: Bodies yet to be moved as forensic teams comb through scene

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‎The process of identifying bodies of students who perished in the Utumishi Girls' school dormitory fire is currently ongoing, as officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) homicide unit and Government Chemist teams continue working at the scene.

‎The officers were combing through the charred remains, assisting in the identification of victims who were burnt beyond recognition in the tragic inferno that claimed at least 16 lives.

‎The scene remained completely cordoned off from the public, with only authorised personnel allowed access as forensic experts carried out the delicate exercise amid tight security.

‎Heart-stricken parents and relatives watched from a distance, many in disbelief and anguish, as the remains of their loved ones were carefully placed into body bags for transfer to mortuaries.

‎Some parents could be seen breaking down, while others stood silently, unable to comprehend the scale of the tragedy that had unfolded overnight at the institution.

‎The identification process has been complicated by the extent of the burns, with officials relying on forensic expertise to establish the identities of the deceased.

‎Authorities said the exercise was being conducted carefully to ensure accuracy and dignity for the victims as investigations into the cause of the fire continue.

‎Officers familiar with the operation said DNA samples will be taken later to confirm the identities of the victims, especially in cases where visual identification is not possible due to the extent of burns.

‎“We are likely to rely on DNA analysis in the next stage to ensure every victim is properly identified and accounted for,” one officer familiar with the process said.

‎By the time of going to press, the exercise had not yet been completed, with officials maintaining that all efforts were being made to account for every student affected.

‎Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba stated that the school has a total enrolment of 815 girls, with 808 present at the time of the incident, while seven were away for various reasons.

‎About 200 students were in the burnt Meline Waithera Block.

‎Meanwhile, investigations into the cause of the fire continued, with officers probing the incident treating it as suspected arson.

‎Multiple accounts from students who spoke to us alleged the fire may have been started by a group of four from Form Three.

‎The group is alleged to have set a mattress next to the door on fire, which then rapidly spread through the structure.

‎It is alleged that when the fire broke out, the dormitory door was closed from inside, ruling out the case of an electrical fault.

‎It is further alleged that keys to the dormitory could also not be immediately traced, delaying efforts to open the doors and allowing students to escape.

‎This reportedly slowed down the evacuation as rescuers, including boda boda riders from around the area, struggled to break into the building.

‎The matron was also not immediately available at the time of the incident, further raising questions.

‎Investigators will now be relying on CCTV footage to establish the sequence of events before and during the fire, including the movement of students as they seek to uncover the circumstances under which the blaze started and how it spread so quickly through the dormitory.

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