Court Gives 8 Utumishi Girls Fire Suspects December 15 Deadline in Murder Case

Seven of the eight minors facing murder charges over the deadly fire at Utumishi Girls Academy are negotiating plea agreements with state prosecutors as the High Court moves to fast-track the proceedings. During a court session on Thursday, prosecutors informed Kibera High Court Judge Diana Kavedza that the plea-bargaining discussions have reached varying stages. To prevent the case from dragging on, Justice Kavedza ordered both sides to wrap up the talks and file any written agreements by December 15, 2026. “We give you one month to see how far we have gone,” she said. Prosecution Rejects Witness Deals for Three Suspects While state lawyers indicated they are nearing the end of the plea-bargaining process, they have pushed back against several defense proposals. Specifically, the prosecution rejected a request to convert three of the accused minors, identified in court records as subjects 5, 6, and 8, into state witnesses, describing their proposed terms as unacceptable. Meanwhile, several other minors have signaled their willingness to plead guilty. Prosecutors noted that talks regarding those offers remain active: one proposal currently awaits formal feedback from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), while another sits on the desk of the Director of Public Prosecutions for final approval. However, the State firmly ruled out any plea deal for subject one, insisting that the minor must face the full proceedings as an alleged child offender. Prosecutors confirmed they will formally respond to the remaining proposals and determine which ones can move forward as binding agreements. Protecting the Minors’ Welfare and Identities Justice Kavedza urged both the prosecution and the defense to avoid unnecessary delays, highlighting the critical need to shield children from prolonged criminal trials. The judge also inquired whether parents and legal counsel were successfully visiting the detained minors twice a month. State prosecutors assured the court they had received no reports of authorities denying family access. Despite those assurances, Kavedza declined to lock in fixed visitation dates. Citing security risks and the obligation to safeguard the minors’ identities and overall welfare, she directed facility officials to arrange family visits flexibly while prioritizing the children’s safety. The eight minors stand accused of murder following the tragic fire at Utumishi Girls Academy that claimed the lives of 16 students. The High Court will reconvene on December 15 to review the status of the negotiations and examine any finalized plea agreements. The post Court Gives 8 Utumishi Girls Fire Suspects December 15 Deadline in Murder Case appeared first on Nairobi Wire .

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