Eight subject minors charged with the murder of 16 girls from the fatal dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls Academy have pleaded not guilty.
The students appeared before Justice Diana Kavedza at the High Court in Kibera, where they denied the charges linked to the tragic blaze that also led to the injury of 79 others on May 28.
According to the prosecution, investigations into the incident led the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to approve 16 counts of murder against the minors.
During the court session, Justice Kavedza reiterated the importance of protecting the identities of the subjects, citing the Children Act 2022.
“The subject minors are charged with murder,” Justice Kavedza stated. “The court must guard against trial by media, public pressure, sensitive concerns and premature conclusions.”
The judge said that the court would only allow “accredited media representatives” to cover the case.
“Accredited media representatives may attend and report from all proceedings conducted in open court. Such reporting shall be fair, accurate, and confined to the proceedings, the court rulings, procedural developments, and matters of legitimate public interest.”
Defence lawyers have urged the Court to grant them bail as is their right as granted by the law; currently, the Prosecution team is opposing their release due to the gravity of the offence.
The subject minors will remain in custody until September 22, 2026 when the court will give its bail ruling.
The probation officer has been ordered to prepare a pre-bail report by conducting interviews with all the family members of the victims and survivors of the tragedy.
Further, the parents of the girls were ordered to pay for their counselling for the next 6months. Justice Diana Kavedza has also ordered no phones, no TVs for the subject minors.
