By Bonface Mulyungi

A memorial service will be held today, June 12, 2026, for the 16 girls who lost their lives in the tragic Utumishi Academy school fire.

The requiem mass will take place at Gilgil Stadium, where hundreds of mourners, government officials, religious leaders and members of the public are expected to gather to pay their final respects to the young victims.

Fifteen hearses were lined up at the Naivasha Funeral Home on Friday morning to transport the bodies to the memorial service, after which they will be released to their respective families for burial ceremonies.

The atmosphere ahead of the memorial has been described as sombre, with grief still hanging heavily over the school community and the affected families as they prepare to lay their loved ones to rest.

One of the victims was buried on Sunday in Kwale County after her body was released early to the family, becoming the first among the 16 girls to be laid to rest.

The devastating fire, which claimed the lives of the students, sent shockwaves across renewing calls for stricter enforcement of fire safety measures in learning institutions to prevent similar incidents in the future.