The Kenyan police detained eight students on suspicion of organizing arson at a girls' boarding school in the town of Gilgil in the southwest of the country.
As a result of the tragedy, 16 schoolgirls died, and more than 70 people were injured, reports NOS.
Eight suspects are in custody
According to the police, the preliminary investigation identified eight students who may have been involved in planning and carrying out the arson.
"The preliminary investigation revealed eight students suspected of preparing and committing the alleged arson," the official statement from law enforcement said.
All suspects are currently in custody.
The fire broke out at night
The fire occurred on the night from Wednesday to Thursday around 1 a.m. in the dormitory of the Utumishi Girls Academy. According to local media, about 220 students were in the building at the time.
Reports from Kenyan outlets indicate that many schoolgirls tried to escape the burning building through the main entrance. Some suffered serious burns. Others headed for the emergency exit, but it was locked.
The inability to evacuate quickly was one of the reasons for the high number of casualties. Several students died, unable to escape the burning dormitory.
Firefighters and police managed to contain the blaze and evacuate the remaining students. The injured were taken to nearby medical facilities.
According to the Kenyan Minister of Education, at least 71 students have already been discharged from hospitals, while seven others continue to receive treatment.
The investigation continues
The girls' boarding school educates more than 800 girls. Initially, law enforcement detained about 30 students for questioning, but later only eight suspects remained in custody.
The Kenyan Minister of Interior urged the public not to spread unverified versions of the motives behind the arson until the investigation is completed.
Distraught parents were kept outside the school buildings while investigators hurriedly worked on identifying the deceased. "Our hearts and prayers are with the families who have lost their beloved daughters," President William Ruto wrote on X, calling the incident an "unthinkable tragedy."
The school is affiliated with the National Police Service, and most of its students are children of police officers, said Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki. "We understand that this is a very distressing time," he added.
Such cases are not uncommon in the country
Fires in educational institutions remain a serious problem for Kenya. According to official data, over a hundred fires in schools were recorded in the country in 2024 alone.
In many cases, the cause was intentional arson committed by students in protest against strict rules, disciplinary measures, or unsatisfactory living conditions.
The tragedy in Gilgil has once again drawn attention to safety issues in Kenyan boarding schools. The investigation should establish the circumstances of the incident and the reasons that may have led to one of the worst school disasters in recent years.
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