Eight students arrested over ‘suspected arson attack’ at Kenyan girls’ school

NAIROBI: Kenyan police said on Friday (May 29) eight students had been arrested over a suspected arson attack at a girls’ school that killed 16 children and injured 79.

The education minister said a preliminary enquiry had found the school had breached safety regulations, its board had been dissolved and disciplinary action was being taken against the school head.

The fire broke early Thursday at Utumishi Girls Academy in Kenya’s Nakuru County, about 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of Nairobi.

Police said the bodies were discovered in the badly fire-damaged dormitory on the upper floor of the two-storey building, which had 12 cubicles housing 135 bunk beds, according to police. 

The dormitory was built to accommodate 270 pupils. It was unclear how many were present at the time of the fire.

“Preliminary investigations have identified eight students as persons of interest in connection with the planning and execution of the suspected arson attack,” the director of criminal investigations said in a statement.

Investigators have interviewed students and teachers, and reviewed CCTV footage and forensic evidence to determine the cause of the fire, which has not been immediately disclosed.

The school is linked to the National Police Service and most pupils are the children of officers.

Education Minister Julius Migos Ogamba issued a statement saying the school “did not adhere to the safety requirements”.

“In particular, there was congestion in the dormitory and one exit door was locked,” he said.