Utumishi Girls fire tragedy: Parents face frustrations during the DNA sample collection exercise
Parents assisted by Redcross staff after viewing the body of the 16 learns who died in the Utumishi Girls Senior School fire tragedy
Parents of students from Utumishi Girls Academy who arrived at the Naivasha Funeral Home were frustrated after they were returned to the school for the collection of DNA samples.
This is despite them being directed to come to the morgue only to be told differently by the Nakuru County Disaster Management Chief Officer, Joyce Ncece.
"It was earlier agreed that we meet in Naivasha for sample taking because we had also agreed that no body viewing would be happening. However, we now direct one of two parents to head back to Utumishi Girls Academy for their DNA samples to be collected from there," she says.
Nakuru County Disaster Management Chief Officer, Joyce Ncece updating bereaved families at the Naivasha Funeral Home
She adds that parents who are unable to drive back to Gilgil, we can help ferry them back through the Kenya Red Cross vehicles.
"Upon arrival there will be no lagging, tents have been set aside for counselling, sampling collection hence the process will be very fast," says CO Ncece.
She notes that word has been given for the bodies at the morgue to not be tampered with as investigations continue and as they await postmortem exams.
Earlier in the morning at around 11 a.m., the Kenya Red Cross team lead by their Officer In Charge, Stephen Maina, had set up a tent at the Naivasha Funeral Home in Naivasha sub-county.
Kenya Red Cross Officer In-Charge, Stephen Maina, addresses the media at the Naivasha Funeral Home.
"We've set up a tent for tracing and counselling sessions as well as an information desk for those coming to ask for thwir loved ones or are seeking clarity on information shared contrary to what we've been sharing," he says.
He says that his team will provide psychosocial support to both parents and students.