Additional Coverage:
NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenyan authorities have detained eight female students on suspicion of arson following a devastating fire that engulfed a dormitory at Utumishi Girls School, resulting in the deaths of 16 children and injuring dozens more. The investigation into the motive behind the blaze is ongoing.
The arrests were confirmed by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), a branch of the national police, which indicated that the suspects were involved in planning and executing the suspected arson attack at the boarding school in central Kenya.
The fire broke out on Thursday morning, leaving 79 students injured. Police conducted extensive questioning of 30 students throughout the day and requested that parents return home without their children, advising them to come back on Friday morning for updates.
“Investigators have carried out thorough interviews with students, teaching staff, and other witnesses, while forensic teams continue to analyze CCTV footage,” DCI spokesperson John Marete said in an official statement.
On Friday, parents gathered at the school remained anxious and frustrated due to a lack of clear information regarding the release of the remaining students. One parent, speaking anonymously over concerns for her daughter’s safety, expressed her frustration: “We have not even been informed about the eight students who were arrested. We are just here with no information.”
Authorities have yet to determine the cause or motive behind the fire. “Detectives are still taking statements and reviewing all evidence to piece together the events, understand the full circumstances, and establish a motive,” Marete added.
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.
School fires remain a serious concern across East Africa, where overcrowded classrooms and dormitories often lack proper firefighting measures. Such incidents have previously been linked to electrical faults or, in some cases, deliberate acts by students in response to disciplinary issues.