Kenyan police have arrested eight students in connection with a suspected arson attack at a girls’ boarding school that claimed the lives of 16 pupils and left dozens more injured.
The arrests follow a devastating fire that broke out during the early hours of Thursday at the Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, approximately 120 kilometres north-west of Nairobi.
According to the National Police Service, investigators identified the eight students as persons of interest after interviewing staff and pupils and reviewing forensic evidence, including CCTV footage from the school.
Authorities believe the students may have played a role in planning and carrying out the blaze, although investigations into the exact cause of the fire are still ongoing.
Police said some of the suspects were traced to their homes and returned to the school for questioning, while others who remained in the area were also detained. The eight were among 30 students initially recalled as part of the investigation.
The fire swept through the upper floor of a dormitory containing 135 bunk beds, trapping students as flames rapidly spread through the building.
Kenya’s Education Minister, Julius Ogamba, said preliminary findings revealed serious safety violations at the school. These included overcrowding in the dormitory and a locked emergency exit, both of which may have contributed to the high death toll.
“In particular, there was congestion in the dormitory and one exit door was locked, contrary to the prescribed safety requirements,” Ogamba said.
Following the tragedy, the minister dissolved the school’s board of management and ordered disciplinary action against the headteacher. He said legal and administrative measures would be taken against anyone found responsible for safety failures.
Meanwhile, anxious parents and relatives gathered at the school seeking information about their children as authorities worked to identify victims and account for missing students.
Some families described hours of uncertainty while waiting for updates from officials. Parents were reportedly divided into groups according to whether their children had been arrested, confirmed dead, or remained unaccounted for.
The fire also injured 79 students, with several hurt while jumping from the building in an attempt to escape. Seven of the most seriously injured pupils were transferred to Nairobi for specialist treatment, while the remaining victims received medical care and were later discharged.
The bodies of the 16 students who died have been taken to a local mortuary, where DNA testing is being used to assist with identification.
The disaster has once again drawn attention to safety standards in Kenyan boarding schools. School dormitory fires have repeatedly claimed lives in the country, with overcrowding, poor emergency procedures and alleged arson frequently cited as contributing factors.
Just two years ago, at least 21 people were killed in another dormitory fire in central Kenya, highlighting longstanding concerns about student safety and school infrastructure.
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