Suba North Member of Parliament Millie Mabona has expressed deep anguish following the emergence of CCTV footage linked to the deadly fire at Utumishi Girls Senior Secondary School in Gilgil, Nakuru County, which claimed the lives of 16 students.
The fire, which broke out in the early hours of May 28, left dozens injured and destroyed part of a dormitory, in what investigators are treating as a suspected arson incident.
Authorities have since arrested several students as persons of interest, with CCTV footage forming a critical part of the ongoing investigation.
Reacting after reportedly viewing the footage, Mabona described the scenes as “horrifying,” saying they evoked the pain and grief experienced by families who lost their children in the tragedy.
“I have watched that CCTV footage of the girls who allegedly lit fire that caused the death of 16 students in Utumishi Academy. It is horrifying and I cannot help but feel the pain of the parents who lost their children,” she said.
The legislator recounted an emotional account shared by one of the affected parents, highlighting the human cost of the incident beyond the statistics.
“One mother almost made me cry when she narrated how she waited for her daughter as other parents were reuniting with theirs, only to realize hers was not coming. That was heart-wrenching,” Mabona added.
While public anger has grown following reports that students may have been behind the fire, Mabona urged caution against rushed judgment, raising questions about intent and the psychological state of those allegedly involved.
“The easiest and more politically correct thing at this time is to condemn the errant girls and wish them death. I keep wondering though, did they really intend to kill?” she posed.
She further questioned whether the suspects fully understood the consequences of their actions, suggesting that the incident may reflect deeper issues affecting students.
“But what if they did not comprehend the magnitude? Then I feel for them and their parents. Their lives, even without a court decision, is scarred almost forever,” she said.
Investigators say forensic analysis of CCTV footage has helped identify several students believed to have been at the centre of the incident, though full details of the footage have not been publicly released.
As the probe continues, Mabona described the situation as a “no win” tragedy, calling for a balanced and humane approach as the country grapples with one of the deadliest school fires in recent years.
“This is a no win/no win situation. Tragic indeed,” she concluded.