From hope to heartbreak: News of girl’s death shatters family

In Naivasha, pain hangs over the family of 17-year-old Gertrude Muthoni who was among those perished in the Utumishi girl’s dorm fire

Speaking on behalf of the family, longtime family friend Elizabeth Munyaka says Muthoni’s mother received a call shortly after 2 a.m. informing her that the school was on fire.

The family rushed to the school and began searching desperately for the teenager, and by morning, Muthoni’s name had neither appeared among survivors nor among those admitted to the hospital.

Hours later, the family was summoned by officials from the Kenya Red Cross and informed that Muthoni was, unfortunately, among those who had died.

“It is very sad. I think sad is an understatement. It is devastating,” Munyaka says.

Muthoni, the only child in her family, had excelled academically and looked forward to completing her studies.

“She was a very obedient, God-fearing, and ambitious young girl. She was also cheerful, sociable, and loved interacting with people,” she says.

According to accounts shared by fellow students, Muthoni may also have died while attempting to save a friend, and although the details remain unconfirmed, Munyaka says students told the family that she had escaped the burning dormitory before turning back to help someone who was still trapped inside.

“She had managed to get out, but when she went back to get her friend, unfortunately, she did not manage to come out. She died doing good, out of her good heart,” Munyaka says, adding that if true, it would be consistent with the selfless nature that defined the teenager's life.

Muthoni dreamt of a future in fashion and law, and was known among friends and family for her confidence, ambition, and sense of style.

“She would ask, ' Why are you wearing this? Her mind was so much into fashion, she loved law, she was a girl who was not, she was ambitious, I would say, if this fails, she can do this, so I would say she was focused and so much ambitious in pursuing so many things in life,” she says.

Munyaka says the mother had just spoken to Muthoni on May 25 and was actually supposed to go to see her on Friday, the same week, only for the fire that claimed her only child to happen.

The family positively identified Muthoni and note that going forward, the process is with the government.

As families continue mourning, both families call for justice and say they hope the tragedy will force authorities to strengthen safety measures in schools and ensure no other parent endures a similar loss.

“Let this be the last case. Going forward, there is no other child who is going to succumb to this kind of madness.  The Utumishi tragedy should be the end of this madness,” she says. “Let these be the last parents who are going to cry about the death of their children. There are kids whose lives will never be the same again because they are wounded. Let this case be the last.”