The first of the 16 students who died in the tragic Utumishi Girls Academy fire has been released to her family, marking the beginning of a painful burial process for bereaved families still grappling with the scale of the tragedy.
Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko announced on Saturday that the body of the late Zuhura Rama was formally handed over to her father, Rama Higa, and close relatives at Naivasha Mortuary.
The transfer comes as families continue to await the release of other victims following postmortem and identification procedures.
According to Sonko, the remains were later moved to Coptic Hospital Mortuary, where they were prepared in accordance with Islamic rites before being airlifted to Mombasa for onward transportation to her final resting place in Ukunda, Kwale County.
Zuhura is scheduled to be buried on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at Mkwakwani Village in Ukunda Ward, Msambweni Constituency. The burial is expected to draw family members, community leaders, and mourners from across the region.
In a show of solidarity, arrangements have been made for her classmates who wish to attend the burial.
Flight tickets have been secured, with the group scheduled to depart from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at 9:40 a.m. The return journey will be by SGR VIP due to limited flight availability.
Sonko said the arrangements are meant to ensure fellow students can pay their last respects and share in the grief of the family during what he described as a deeply painful moment.
He also acknowledged the support of state and humanitarian agencies in managing the aftermath of the tragedy, citing coordination efforts by the Government of Kenya, the County Government of Nakuru, and the Kenya Red Cross in assisting bereaved families.
As burial preparations begin, grief continues to ripple across affected families, with authorities still managing the release and identification of the remaining bodies.
“No parent should have to bury a child, and no child should have to mourn a friend from afar,” Sonko said, extending condolences to all families affected.
He further prayed for the deceased, asking for divine mercy for Zuhura and strength for those left behind as the country confronts one of its most distressing school tragedies in recent months.