Eight learners from Utumishi Girls Academy in Nakuru County, Kenya, are being held in custody over a suspected arson attack that caused a deadly dormitory fire, an incident that claimed the lives of 16 learners.
According to authorities, the eight are being questioned about their roles in planning the heinous act before being arraigned in court on June 2.
The fire broke out on May 28 night in a dormitory that was housing 220 students of Grade 10, Form 3 and 4 causing burn injuries to 79 others. 71 students received treatment and were discharged.
However, 8 others are still admitted in hospital with different degrees of injuries from the fire that completely destroyed the dormitory.
Preliminary findings by Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations, DCI, point to a deliberate act of arson, though further investigations are ongoing
The Ministry of Education has since dissolved the schools board of management and recommended disciplinary actions against the school head for failing to adhere to the Standard Safety Manual for Schools. Two other teachers are said to have ignored unrest intel that was disclosed to them earlier, thus will be punished.
The identification of the victims who perished is going on at the Naivasha Sub-County Hospital Mortuary where the bodies are preserved
