The government has set June 17, 2026, as the official date for the release of the 16 Utumishi Girls fire victims’ bodies to their families.
This follows the completion of DNA identification of the victims who died on May 28 by the government chemist.
As the government chemist completed the  DNA identification process, parents of the Meline Waithera dormitory fire victims are currently undergoing counseling before being briefed on the identification outcomes.
Families of the Utumishi fire victims will be allowed access to the bodies of the deceased from the Naivasha Funeral Home on the set release day.
Some parents of the victims are, however, demanding the immediate release of their children’s remains for burial preparation.
Speaking to the media, the parents argued that there is no basis for holding the already identified bodies awaiting June 17.
“We are not happy with the information we are currently receiving that the government cannot release the bodies until June 17; we are very worried, as families, as we had already identified the bodies of our children, and the government holding the bodies is not understandable,” a parent of a Grade 10 victim explained in a media interview.
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Parents Demand Immediate Access to Bodies
The parent of the Grade 10 victim said that there is no necessity for parents to wait for the set date, adding that parents of the victims should be allowed to pick the remains of their children and put them to rest, as they are still incurring the finances for the bodies at the funeral home.
Additionally, the parent noted that all parents of the 16 Utumishi fire victims had already confirmed the identity and nothing more could be done.
Speaking on behalf of other parents, the parent has called upon the government to change the directive on the release of the bodies on June 17 to immediately.
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 Utumishi Fire Victims’ Bodies Release Exception
Parents of one of the victims, who was of the Muslim religion, had expectations on the release of their child’s bodies to undergo the Muslim burial rites but had to await the directives of the government.
After the confirmation of the government chemist on the DNA identification, the family of the Muslim victim has been allowed to take the remains of their child to Mbagathi Mortuary for the preparation.
The family is set to proceed to Kwale and perform the muslim burial rites on the victim as per the religion, as the family will not be part of the Utumishi Fire victims commemoration and requiem mass on June 17.
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