Two months after tragedy shook Utumishi Girls High School, the institution is turning a new page with a special prayer service bringing together students, teachers and invited guests as learning returns to normal and the 2026 candidates prepare for their final examinations.
The prayer day is focused on thanksgiving, healing and spiritual encouragement for the school community, which has been working to recover from the May 28 dormitory fire that claimed the lives of 16 students.
Principal Rufina Nkonge said the gathering marks the school's first prayer day since learning resumed after the institution reopened in phases on July 2.
“Today is a special day. We have a prayer day for the school since reopening, and also for the candidate class 2026,” Nkonge said.
She said the school has made steady progress since reopening, with students gradually settling back into class after receiving psychosocial support to help them cope with the trauma caused by the fire.
“Since the tragedy that struck our school occurred, we have since reopened, and we have settled down with the learning. We have gotten a lot of psychosocial support for the girls. They were traumatised, but we have settled down,” she said.
Nkonge said the return of learners has been encouraging, with about 92 per cent of students reporting back to school.
“The classes are on, and 92 per cent of the girls came back to school. And we are grateful to God,” she said.
She also expressed gratitude to parents, the school's sponsor and its patron, DIG Eliud Lagat, for standing by the institution throughout its recovery.
“We are grateful to the parents, and more so to our sponsor, and especially our patron Director Eliud Lagat, who has been very supportive,” Nkonge said.
Lagat is among the guests attending the prayer service.
The school resumed learning in phases, with Form Four students among the first to report back. Before returning, they underwent mandatory trauma counselling, while enhanced security checks were introduced as part of efforts to provide a safe environment for learners.
As the school continues to rebuild, the court case arising from the deadly fire is still before the High Court.
On July 1, the High Court directed that the eight students charged over the dormitory fire be referred to as "subject minors" because they are children.
Justice Diana Kavedza issued the direction during proceedings at the Kibera High Court, where the eight students took plea on 16 counts of murder linked to the deaths of their 16 fellow students.
All the subject minors denied the charges.
While addressing the court, Justice Kavedza emphasised that the language used during the proceedings must reflect the legal safeguards available to children in conflict with the law.
“Nobody should call them accused persons. We do not have an accused person. These are children; we shall refer to them and address them as minor subjects,” the judge directed.
The court also ordered that the identities of the eight students remain protected throughout the proceedings.
Justice Kavedza further directed that pre-bail reports be prepared and filed before the next hearing on September 22, 2026.