Eight Students Detained In Kenya Over Boarding School Fire That Killed 16
Kenyan police arrest eight students in boarding school fire arson investigation.
Police in Kenya have arrested eight female students on suspicion of arson following a devastating fire at a boarding school that left 16 children dead and dozens injured, according to authorities. The incident has triggered a major investigation into what caused the blaze and whether it was deliberately set.
The fire broke out on Thursday morning at Utumishi Girls School in central Kenya, destroying a dormitory and killing 16 students while injuring 79 others. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations confirmed that the arrested students are suspected of planning and carrying out the arson attack, though the motive remains under investigation.
Authorities said detectives have been conducting extensive interviews with students, teachers and witnesses as part of the probe. Forensic teams are also reviewing CCTV footage and other available evidence to reconstruct the sequence of events that led to the deadly fire. Officials have stressed that the investigation is ongoing and no final conclusions have been drawn about the cause.
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Following the incident, police questioned around 30 students at the school and later instructed parents to return without their children, asking them to come back the following day. However, uncertainty has continued among families, with some parents saying they have not received clear information about the arrests or the status of their children.
A spokesperson for the investigative agency said detectives are continuing to record statements and analyse evidence to establish the full circumstances of the fire, including the motive behind the suspected arson. The bodies of the deceased students have been transferred to a government hospital morgue for identification through DNA testing.
School fires remain a recurring concern in parts of East Africa, where overcrowding in boarding facilities and limited fire safety infrastructure have contributed to similar tragedies in the past. Authorities say this case will also examine broader safety conditions alongside the criminal investigation into the suspected arson attack.
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