Father Denies Sonko Funded Full Burial for Utumishi Fire Victim Daughter

The father of Zuhura, Rama, spoke out firmly days after her burial and pushed back against stories that tied Mike Sonko closely to the support for her send-off. Zuhura Rama died in the deadly dormitory fire that shook Utumishi Girls Academy near Gilgil.

Grief still hangs heavy over Mkwakwani village in Kwale County. Families there buried 16-year-old Zuhura Rama on June 7, 2026. She became the first victim released from the mortuary after the tragedy that claimed 16 young lives.

The fire ripped through the upper floor of a dormitory packed with 135 bunk beds in the early hours of May 29, 2026. It left 79 other students injured, many from desperate jumps.

Mzee Rama Higa stood among relatives and addressed the claims directly. He made clear the family handled most costs themselves.

Did Mike Sonko cover the entire burial for Zuhura Rama?

No, he did not, according to her father, who stressed the former Nairobi governor gave only limited cash.

“In his speech the old man explained how things really went down,” one observer noted. The father told those gathered that Sonko handed over fifty thousand shillings. He said the family already covered the bigger expenses before any outside help arrived. “Sonko alinipea elfu tu hamsini; hizo vitu zingine tulikuwa tushagharamikia,” the grieving dad stated plainly.

His words cut through the narrative that painted Sonko as the main sponsor. Videos showed Sonko at the airport during the body transfer. He walked alongside the family and even cracked a small joke to ease the pain for a moment.

Sonko later shared how he saw Mzee Rama Higa overwhelmed with sorrow and wanted him to know support surrounded the family. Yet the father pushed back against any bigger story.

This twist comes at a raw time for the entire community. The Utumishi Girls’ Academy sits in Gilgil, about 120 kilometres northwest of Nairobi. Police arrested eight students suspected in an arson attack. The dormitory fire exposed serious safety failures at the school and raised tough questions for education officials.

Mourners at the burial called loudly for justice. They demanded accountability from the school management and the ministry. Zuhura, a dedicated Grade 10 student, left behind dreams that now fuel anger across Kwale and beyond. Her mother fainted during emotional moments as relatives gathered for the Islamic rites. Classmates who travelled for the ceremony received some flight help, but the family insists they organised the core arrangements.

Mike Sonko had stepped forward quickly after the tragedy. Reports said he facilitated the transfer of Zuhura’s body from the Naivasha mortuary and bought tickets so schoolmates could attend the burial in the Msambweni area.

His team shared images of him comforting the father and coordinating logistics. Yet Mzee Rama Higa wanted the record straight. He disowned any link that suggested full sponsorship.

Locals in Kwale reacted with mixed feelings. Some appreciated any help during such pain. Others saw political angles creep into private grief. ” Bringing politics to your own daughter’s funeral feels wrong,” one resident muttered near the gravesite. The father focused on facts. He told the crowd the family took charge and only accepted the fifty thousand as extra support. opened.