Utumishi Girls fire survivor says suspects had dispute with teachers

One of the four Utumishi Girls Academy students discharged from Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) in Nairobi on Thursday has revealed that suspects accused of setting the dormitory at ablaze had an ongoing dispute with teachers.

Speaking in Nakuru after leaving hospital, the Grade 10 student recounted the harrowing events of that night.

At the home of Gladys, a Grade 10 student at Utumishi Girls, in Njoro, Nakuru, we find family members gently carrying her from one seat to another.

To conceal her identity, we will refer to her as Gladys. Gladys is lucky to be alive but she currently cannot walk. She has returned home after a week in hospital, having narrowly escaped death on the night of May 27th. Doctors say she had fractures on both legs.

“Nalala kwa dirisha nikapita hapo… niliruka kutoka first floor. Wengine waliumia mgongo, wengine stairs… mimi miguu tu. Nikabebwa nikapelekwa St. Joseph,” she recalls.

Gladys says the students who lit the fire wanted to avoid a disciplinary session scheduled with the principal the following day.

“Kama Grade 10 tulikuwa twende retreat Sunday… tukasikia wale waliwasha moto walikuwa na shida na principal,” she said.

Gladys says she lost two close friends that night. Her mother says the trauma has left her struggling emotionally, and supports the school’s move to install CCTV cameras in dormitories.

“Tulifika 5:30…Alisema hawezi lala kwa bedroom…anahitaji counselling. Mi sioni madhara ya CCTV…kwa sababu ata hiyo CCTV haifiki kwa vitanda za Watoto,” said the parent.

Elsewhere in Mogoon, Nakuru West, Faith Koskei's family is still processing the loss of their loved one in a road accident that occurred on May 27th at Diatomite area along the Nakuru-Nairobi highway.

Faith and her husband were rushing to school to check on their Form Four daughter who had made a distress call.

“Nilipigia my parents nikawaambia nimeumia wanikujie…nilitoka kwa dorm 2:30…hawakukuja my uncles walikuja…nilikuwa nimekasirika wakuje, it is their norm wafike in an hour…nikasema it is 6 na niliwapigia saa nane,” said the student.

The student, who was hosted in a different dormitory and who escaped unhurt, says the events of that night have robbed her of a mother. She demands justice.

“I lost my friends…nitawamiss…for the girls tupate tu justice, sielewi mbona wako na hizo siku…we want justice,” she said.

As the family prepares to bury Faith, her husband Emmanuel remains admitted in a private hospital in Nakuru. He survived the accident but requires surgery that adds up to more than three million shillings.

Amos Koskei, Emmanuel’s brother, said: “The surgeries are expensive…he is supposed awekwe chuma…tunarequest financial support…ilitupata kwa ghafla…ni kitu haikupangwa.”

The family informed Emmanuel about his wife’s death a few days ago, a task they describe as painful.