Two of the eight minors charged over the deaths of 16 students at Utumishi Girls Academy have initiated plea-bargaining negotiations with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), weeks after the court denied them bail.
The development emerged on Monday at the Kibera Law Courts, where the prosecution confirmed receiving a formal plea-bargaining request concerning one of the accused children, identified as Subject 3.
State Counsel informed the court that preliminary discussions had already taken place but further consultations with the minor were necessary before the negotiations could proceed.
A lawyer representing another accused child also told the court that he had formally written to the ODPP seeking plea-bargaining negotiations on behalf of his client. The lawyer asked the court to facilitate enhanced visits to allow him to consult with the minor and the child’s parents as the process progresses.
Other defence lawyers said they were still consulting their clients and their parents before deciding whether to pursue similar negotiations.
Trial Judge Kavedza allowed the discussions to proceed and directed that the parents of all the accused children be granted two enhanced visits every month, in coordination with the institution where the minors are being held. The court further ordered that the case be mentioned every two weeks to monitor progress in the plea-bargaining process, with the next mention scheduled for November 11, 2026.
Meanwhile, the court received an update on the minors’ education, with children’s officer Hilda Mbatha confirming that they were continuing to attend classes in compliance with previous court directions.
The court heard that the children were expected to sit their examinations the following week. Judge Kavedza directed that their education continue uninterrupted as the criminal proceedings progress.
