Prosecution today petitioned a Nakuru court to hold student suspects in custody for 30 days to prevent the compromise of a homicide and arson investigation into the Utumishi Girls’ High School disaster.

The catastrophic May 28 fire at the Gilgil-based institution has now claimed the lives of 16 students.

Seven others remain hospitalized with severe burns at the Kenyatta National Hospital; the court is scheduled to rule on the detention application tomorrow, June 3.

During Tuesday’s court session, State prosecutors argued that releasing the minors on bail or bond would severely jeopardize the case.

Following the indefinite closure of the school, potential student witnesses have dispersed across the country, and detectives require time to track them down and record formal statements.

Furthermore, the State raised serious concerns regarding the suspects’ own safety, citing intense public anger and the viral spread of leaked security footage.

“The incident has elicited public outrage, thus placing the safety and lives of the respondents in danger if they are released on bail or bond,” the prosecution stated, requesting that the minors be held at the Nakuru Children’s Remand Home.

Lawyers representing the victims threw their weight behind the State, invoking the Victim Protection Act and urging the bench to prioritize the sheer magnitude of the offense.

Conversely, the defense team, led by Kipkoech Ngetich, fiercely resisted the motion.

Ngetich accused the state of engineering an unconstitutional pre-trial detention before formal charges had even been preferred.

While dismissing claims that the minors could obstruct justice, Ngetich argued, “Can the children interfere with government agencies involved in the probe? No, that is not possible.”

As the court prepares its ruling, a parallel investigation by the DCI’s Child Protection Unit has exposed a chillingly calculated timeline of the tragedy.

During interrogations conducted alongside professional counselors at the Gilgil Police Station, the suspects reportedly confessed that the arson was sparked by a trifecta of grievances against the school administration.

The school administration had abruptly brought terminal exams forward from June 16 to June 2.

Students were frustrated by a compulsory fee imposed to fund an upcoming cultural event.

The unrest was allegedly fueled by peer pressure following a recent strike at a neighboring boys’ secondary school.

According to investigators, the plot to torch the dormitory was finalized at around 9:00 PM on the night of the incident, just as the student body was preparing to retire for the night.

Form Three and Form Four students went to bed at 9:35 PM and 10:35 PM, respectively.

Approximately three hours later, the plan was executed.

Detectives confirmed that a thorough review of the school’s CCTV footage captures key moments of the preparation, including the illicit acquisition of matchboxes, mattresses, and the paraffin used to light the fatal blaze.