Seven of the eight minors facing murder charges over the deadly fire at Utumishi Girls Academy are negotiating plea agreements with state prosecutors as the High Court moves to fast-track the proceedings.
During a court session on Thursday, prosecutors informed Kibera High Court Judge Diana Kavedza that the plea-bargaining discussions have reached varying stages. To prevent the case from dragging on, Justice Kavedza ordered both sides to wrap up the talks and file any written agreements by December 15, 2026.
“We give you one month to see how far we have gone,” she said.
Prosecution Rejects Witness Deals for Three Suspects
While state lawyers indicated they are nearing the end of the plea-bargaining process, they have pushed back against several defense proposals. Specifically, the prosecution rejected a request to convert three of the accused minors, identified in court records as subjects 5, 6, and 8, into state witnesses, describing their proposed terms as unacceptable.
Meanwhile, several other minors have signaled their willingness to plead guilty. Prosecutors noted that talks regarding those offers remain active: one proposal currently awaits formal feedback from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), while another sits on the desk of the Director of Public Prosecutions for final approval.
However, the State firmly ruled out any plea deal for subject one, insisting that the…
