The suspects have been in police custody since their arrest on May 29, 2026.
The High Court has ordered a mental assessment of eight students from Utumishi Girls Academy who are facing 16 murder charges in connection with the deaths of their colleagues in a dormitory fire on the night of May 28
The assessment will determine whether the suspects are mentally fit to stand trial.
The case will be mentioned on July 1, when the court is expected to issue further directions after reviewing the mental assessment report.
The charges were approved by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on Tuesday following a review of a preliminary inquiry file submitted by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) into the fatal arson incident.
In a statement, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) said the decision was reached after a careful evaluation of the evidence gathered during the investigations.
"Upon careful assessment of the evidence, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has approved charges against the implicated students. The suspects will face sixteen (16) counts of murder arising from the incident," the statement said.
The eight students were arrested on May 29 after interviews with students and staff, as well as a forensic review of CCTV footage, which identified them as persons of interest in the planning and execution of the fire.
The blaze tore through the upper floor of a dormitory in the early hours of May 28 while most students were asleep.
The dormitory named Meline Waithera Block housed 137 bunk beds.
By morning, police confirmed that 16 students had died in the fire, while 179 others sustained injuries of varying severity.
The suspects were among 30 students who were initially recalled to the school as detectives intensified investigations into the tragedy.
Police traced some of the learners to their homes and brought them back to the school for questioning alongside those who had remained on the premises.
The case has attracted widespread public attention and reignited the national debate on school safety.
The incident also triggered a wave of student unrest across the country, leading to the closure of at least 204 schools.
The DPP expressed concern over the rising cases of arson and other criminal acts in schools, warning that those found responsible would be held accountable under the law.
"The DPP extends heartfelt sympathies to the families, friends and the school community affected by this tragic incident," the statement said.
The DPP added that the office remains committed to ensuring that where investigations establish criminal conduct, those responsible are brought to justice.
