Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has called for investigations into how government support for families affected by the Utumishi Girls Academy dormitory fire has been handled, following distressing claims raised by the family of one of the victims, Cecilia Wanjiku.
In a statement shared on social media, Sonko narrated receiving an emotional call in the early hours of Saturday morning from Cecilia’s mother, who said she was stranded at a mortuary without means to transport her daughter’s body for burial arrangements.
“At around 3:47 a.m. on Saturday morning, as I happened to wake up and head to the bathroom, I received a heartbreaking call from the mother of the late Cecilia Wanjiku,” Sonko stated.
“She told me she was stranded at the mortuary and had no means of transporting her daughter's body. We responded immediately.”
Cecilia Wanjiku has been widely described as a brave student who allegedly returned into a burning dormitory during the tragic inferno to try and rescue fellow students.
She is among the learners who died in the fire that claimed multiple lives and left several families in mourning.
Sonko, while expressing condolences, questioned how a grieving family could be left in such a situation despite reported government interventions to assist victims.
“What pains me most is that the Government had reportedly provided hearses, coffins, and financial assistance to the affected families,” he said. “If that is true, how could a grieving mother be left in such a desperate situation?”
The former governor further urged investigative agencies, including the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), to look into possible mismanagement or diversion of relief resources meant for bereaved families.
“There are worrying allegations that resources meant for grieving families may not have reached their intended beneficiaries or some of it diverted,” he added.
The remarks come as families continue to grapple with loss and trauma following the deadly fire incident at the school, which has sparked national concern over safety standards in boarding institutions and the management of emergency response systems.
Sonko concluded his message with condolences, saying: “May Cecilia and all the other students who lost their lives rest in eternal peace. May God comfort, strengthen, and grant peace to their families during this unimaginable time.”