By Rebecca Odhiambo
A claim posted on a TikTok account with the username @redempta.018 on July 4, 2026, was captioned with “ wamefungwa kifungo cha maisha,” which translates to “they’ve been sentenced to life imprisonment ”. The video also shows courtroom footage of a group of hooded individuals and some men.
At the time of review, the post had 32.2k likes, 2,121 comments, 1,844 saves, 798 shares, and 611.4k views, indicating it had reached a wider audience. A review of the account’s other posts suggests it is primarily a lifestyle and entertainment page. It mainly shares trending content, personal videos, and viral clips, and is not affiliated with any recognized news organization.
Background
The Utumishi Girls Academy tragedy occurred on the night of May 28, 2026, when a fire tore through a dormitory at the school in Gilgil, Nakuru, killing 16 students and leaving 79 others injured. The fire occurred on the upper floor of Meline Waithera boarding dormitory house, which housed about 202 students, forcing them to flee through a single doorway after the emergency exit failed to open. Following the incident, investigators from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) launched in-depth inquiries, including the review of CCTV footage and witness statements. These investigations led to the arrest of nine students, but one was later released due to insufficient evidence, leaving eight subject minors facing prosecution.
Investigators believe the fire was deliberately set, with preliminary findings linking the alleged motive to student grievances over the rescheduling of examinations and a planned school event. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) subsequently approved 16 murder charges against the eight minors in June 2026, and the case was transferred to the High Court in Kibera because of the seriousness of the charges and the fact that the suspects are minors.
The incident is the latest entry in Kenya’s long, tragic history of school dormitory fires. The deadliest one remains the Kyanguli Secondary School incident, which occurred in 2001 and resulted in the death of 67 students after two students set a dormitory ablaze over grievances with the Principal. The other is Bombolulu Girls Secondary, where 26 girls died in 1997 after a dormitory fire, with the only exit locked from outside and windows barred. The most recent incident, which occurred in 2024, involved 21 pupils aged 10-14 years at Hillside Endarasha Academy after a dormitory fire broke out, resulting in overcrowding due to narrow exits that hampered evacuation.
Verification
On June 26, 2026, the eight minors appeared before Kibera High Court Judge Diana Kavedza, who deferred their plea, pending mental-fitness and age assessments, while noting a conviction could carry death or life imprisonment.
On July 1, 2026, the eight formally appeared and pleaded not guilty to all 16 murder counts, with their defense applying for bail. The judge directed that because they are minors, they should be referred to as “subject minors” and ordered that their identities remain protected throughout the trial. The court ordered the students to be remanded at Kabete Juvenile Remand Home until their next hearing on September 22, 2026.
None of the court reports indicate that the minors were convicted or sentenced. As of mid-July 2026, the matter is still before the High Court, with proceedings continuing under child protection laws. A sentence such as life imprisonment can only be imposed after a trial has been concluded, and a court has found an accused person guilty beyond reasonable doubt. At this stage, no judgement has been delivered.
The TikTok video only contains an on-screen caption saying the suspects have been sentenced to life imprisonment and does not cite any court judgement, official judiciary communication, or other verifiable sources confirming such a sentence.
Verdict
The claim that the suspects in the Utumishi Girls Academy Fire Case have been sentenced to life imprisonment is FALSE.
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