Kenyan police have arrested eight female students on suspicion of arson following a devastating fire at a boarding school that claimed the lives of 16 children and left dozens injured. Authorities confirmed the arrests on Friday, stating that the girls are believed to have planned and executed the suspected arson attack at Utumishi Girls School in central Kenya.
Details of the Incident
The blaze erupted on Thursday morning, destroying a dormitory and resulting in 16 fatalities. In addition to the deaths, 79 others sustained injuries. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), a department of the national police, reported that the arrested students are being held for their alleged involvement in the arson.
Police spent the entire day Thursday interrogating 30 students at the school. Parents were instructed to return home without their daughters and come back on Friday morning for further updates. However, many parents remained in a state of uncertainty, with no clear information about the release of the remaining students.
Investigation Underway
DCI spokesperson John Marete stated that investigators have conducted extensive interviews with students, teaching staff, and other witnesses. Forensic teams are also reviewing available CCTV footage to piece together the events leading up to the fire. The motive behind the suspected arson remains unknown, and detectives are analyzing all evidence to reconstruct the sequence of events.
“Detectives continue to record statements and analyze all available evidence to reconstruct the sequence of events, establish the full circumstances of the incident, and determine the motive,” Marete said in a statement.
Parental Concerns
Parents at the school expressed frustration over the lack of communication. One parent, speaking on condition of anonymity due to fear of victimization, told the Associated Press, “We have not even been told about the eight that police have arrested. We are just here and no one is giving us any information.”
Identification of Victims
The bodies of the 16 deceased students were transported to a government hospital morgue on Thursday, where DNA testing is being conducted to confirm their identities.
Context of School Fires in East Africa
Fires at schools have been a persistent concern for education officials in East Africa. Classrooms and dormitories are often overcrowded, and firefighting equipment is frequently absent. Such fires are sometimes attributed to electrical faults or deliberate acts by students in response to disciplinary issues.
