Kenya's First Lady mourns the death of students at Otomichi Girls' Academy
During a memorial service
Written by Ziad Abdel Fattah:
During the memorial service for the students of Otomishi Girls' Academy, mourning First Lady of KenyaRachel Roto, in moving words, addressed the victims, expressing her deep sorrow at the loss of a number of students whom she described as "precious young souls".
Ruto said the girls' departure left deep pain in the hearts of their families and friends, as well as in the conscience of the entire nation.
Ruto affirms its support for the affected families.
She noted that words cannot alleviate the severity of the tragedy, stressing that she stands with the bereaved families during these difficult times and provides them with moral support.
The list of victims included a number of students, among them Cecilia, Juliet, Imani, Julie, Gertrude, Mercy, Nima, Purity, Jane, Nicole, Salistine, Abigail, Precious, Fortune, Zahra, and Cheryl.
The First Lady concluded her remarks by praying for mercy for the victims and for patience and solace for their families, while Kenyan authorities continue investigations to determine the causes and circumstances of the fire.
Sixteen female students died inside a dormitory belonging to Otomishi Girls' Academy.
Kenya was plunged into mourning days ago following a tragic incident that claimed the lives of 16 students after a fire broke out inside a dormitory belonging to the Otomishi Girls Academy in the Nakuru region in the center of the country.
Autopsy results showed that all 16 students who died in the fire at the Otomishi Girls Academy dormitory in Kenya died from severe burns.
In a statement issued by the Criminal Investigation Department on Sunday, May 31, 2026, investigators confirmed that all the victims died as a result of severe burns, thus refuting previous reports that indicated some of the students had died of suffocation.
A team of pathologists from the Naivasha County Sub-Hospital reported that the victims died from severe burns consistent with a fire that quickly spread within the dormitory.
The Criminal Investigation Department stated, "The examinations confirmed that all sixteen students died as a result of severe burns.".
The tragic fire occurred on Thursday, May 28, 2026, and has since sparked widespread public outrage, with authorities launching intensive investigations to determine its causes and identify those responsible.
Investigators also revealed that visual identification of the victims had become difficult, necessitating the collection of DNA samples.
The Kenyan Red Cross also provided psychological and social support to bereaved families who were allowed to see the bodies of their loved ones.
