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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Evelyne Musambi

Kenya holds a memorial service for 16 victims of last month's girls school fire

Kenya School Fire - (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Hundreds of mourners gathered on Friday in Kenya’s central town of Gilgil for a memorial service to honor the lives of 16 students who died in a fire at a girls school last month that police said was caused by arson. Authorities have arrested nine suspects.

The remains of the girls, who were students at Utumishi Girls Academy, were placed in white coffins adorned with flowers and topped with their portraits. The coffins were lined up in front of their families, schoolmates, community members and local leaders, who called for justice.

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