Jesus Compassion Ministry founder Bishop Ben Kiengei has weighed in on the Utumishi Girls Academy fire tragedy, calling for deeper reflection on grief and loss, and explaining why individuals linked to the incident should be allowed to attend the burials of the 16 students who died.
Bishop Kiengei made the remarks in the wake of the devastating arson attack that occurred at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, where 16 students lost their lives, and 79 others were injured after fire broke out in a dormitory housing hundreds of learners.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, Kiengei said that moments of loss carry lessons that cannot be fully understood from a distance, adding that witnessing grief firsthand helps people grasp the emotional weight of tragedy and its impact on families.
“Can the girls be allowed to attend these burials?? So that they can understand what true grief is…… Will their parents attend???” he wrote.
He suggested that those named in connection with the incident should be allowed to attend the burials of the victims so that they can fully understand the intensity of grief experienced by bereaved families and the wider community.
The bishop further stressed the importance of emotional awareness, prayer, encouragement and correction in dealing with such tragedies, noting that silence and avoidance should not replace reflection and accountability in moments of national pain.
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