GRIEF AT UTUMISHI GIRL'S REQUIEM MASS

An atmosphere of grief and sorrow engulfed Gilgil Stadium on Friday as families, friends, students, leaders, and members of the public gathered for a requiem mass in honour of the 16 Utumishi Girls Academy students who lost their lives in a tragic dormitory fire.

The emotional service brought together mourners from across the country, including First Lady Rachel Ruto, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, religious leaders, teachers, and the bereaved families.

Tears flowed freely as 15 white coffins, each adorned with flowers and photographs of the young victims, were arranged inside the stadium. The 16th victim, Zuhura Rama, had earlier been laid to rest in Kwale County in accordance with Islamic traditions.

Many parents struggled to contain their emotions as they came face to face with the reality of losing daughters whose dreams and futures had been cut short by the May 28 dormitory fire.

One of the most heartbreaking moments of the day came when student Cynthia Wanja stepped forward to pay tribute to her departed schoolmates. In a moving rendition of Wimbo wa Historia, she recounted the tragic events of the night of the fire and the desperate attempts by students to save themselves.

Her emotional performance left mourners in tears, with many visibly overwhelmed by the painful memories it evoked.

Fellow students also paid tribute through songs of hope and faith. Before leading her peers in song, one student reflected on the tragedy, saying:
“We went through a very tragic incident. We are hurting, but we remain strong. We thank God, and we know that we will achieve all that He has planned for us.”

The students later performed Ni Salama Rohoni, a hymn that offered comfort and hope amid the profound grief.

Another emotional tribute came from the school's student leadership, with school captain Abigael Wanjiku remembering the deceased girls as friends, classmates, teammates, and companions whose absence would be deeply felt by the entire school community.

First Lady Rachel Ruto was visibly emotional during the service, at times wiping away tears as families mourned their daughters. Counselors from the Kenya Red Cross and other support agencies were on hand to provide psychosocial support to grieving relatives and students.

In a message delivered on his behalf by Education CS Julius Ogamba, President William Ruto extended his condolences to the bereaved families and assured Kenyans that the government would strengthen safety measures in schools.
"To every Kenyan parent who sends a child to school in trust, I make this promise: We will not rest until our schools are places of safety, and we will take every measure so that no family ever again bears this sorrow," Ruto said.

The President described the deceased students as young girls with bright futures and limitless potential.
"These were girls full of promise, bright, ambitious, dreaming of the women they would become and the country they would help build," he said.
"They were not only their parents' daughters, but they were also the daughters of Kenya. Today, the whole nation grieves as one home."

Acknowledging the pain facing the bereaved families, the President added:
"As a parent myself, I know there is no grief deeper than that of a mother or a father who must bury a child. We mourn with you as one family."
He further noted:
"We gather not only to mourn them, but to honour them for the joy they brought, the friendships that they cherished and the futures that they reached towards with such hope."

The Head of State also praised teachers, first responders, health workers, and security personnel who assisted during and after the tragedy.
"I thank the teachers, first responders, health workers and security agencies whose compassion and courage brought comfort in a moment of unimaginable pain," the President said.

"Their lives, though cut short, will never be forgotten. May their souls rest in eternal peace."

During the service, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna offered what he described as an
unreserved apology to the affected families, saying leaders must take responsibility for failures that continue to expose students to danger.

"As part of the leadership, we are not going to make any excuses. I want to tender an unreserved apology to the families who have lost these 16 young souls," he said.

Sifuna lamented that similar tragedies had continued to occur despite previous warnings.
"These things have gone on for far too long. For how long must Kenyans cry? We are hoping that you, the people, are going to provide some solutions," he added.

The requiem mass also provided a moment for Utumishi Girls Academy founder and former Deputy Inspector General of Police Edward Mbugua to explain the history behind the dormitory that was destroyed in the fire.

Mbugua revealed that the building had been named after his daughter, Meline Waithera, who died in a road accident in Nairobi in June 2021.

The tragic fire, which occurred on May 28, claimed the lives of 16 students and sparked renewed debate over safety standards in boarding schools. Investigations into the incident remain ongoing as authorities seek answers and accountability.

As families prepare to lay their daughters to rest, the scenes witnessed at Gilgil Stadium served as a painful reminder of lives lost too soon and a nation united in mourning for its children.