Kenyan students to face murder charges after dorm fire killed 16 girls
Authorities plan murder charges over a dormitory blaze at a girls' academy that killed 16, in a case gripping the nation.
Marcus Reeve
Writer ·

Kenyan authorities plan to bring murder charges against students accused of starting a dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls Academy that killed 16 girls.
Background
The accused students appeared at Naivasha Law Courts as grieving families gathered for memorials, turning the tragedy into a national story about school safety and accountability.
Dormitory fires have repeatedly raised concerns in Kenya over building standards, supervision and emergency preparedness at boarding schools.
What happens next
The court process will test how the justice system handles such a sensitive case, while pressure grows for stronger safeguards to prevent future disasters.
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