Detectives have detained more than 10 students from Utumishi Girls Academy as investigations into the dormitory fire that killed 16 learners and injured dozens more gather pace.
Authorities suspect the blaze, which broke out at about 12:45am on Thursday, May 28, may have been a case of arson after flames engulfed the upper floor of a dormitory, leaving several students trapped inside.
Investigators said 79 students sustained serious injuries during the incident and were taken to different hospitals for treatment. Of those injured, 71 were later discharged after being stabilised.
Police handling the case reportedly separated the detained students from the rest of the learners and kept them under custody within one of the school blocks overnight as questioning continued. Other students who had already left the school with their parents or guardians have also been recalled to assist detectives with the probe.
Among the key issues under investigation are claims by survivors that security lights within the compound are switched off every night at exactly 10:10pm.
Detectives are also examining allegations that the affected dormitory had been locked from the outside, potentially preventing students from escaping the fire.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is further investigating whether pressure linked to examinations scheduled for Tuesday, June 2, could have played a role in the suspected arson attack.
Meanwhile, government pathologist Dr Johansen Oduor revealed that some of the bodies recovered from the scene were burnt beyond recognition, complicating the identification process.
At the time of the tragedy, the school had a population of 815 students, with 808 present on the night of the fire. Seven others were reportedly away from the institution for undisclosed reasons.
Speaking to the press on Thursday, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba urged the public to avoid speculation about the cause of the blaze until investigations are complete.
“Let’s not be speculative at this stage. We have a school safety manual that all schools adhere to. Let’s wait and see if the manual was adhered to after the investigation,” Ogamba stated.
Following the incident, Dr Oduor arrived at the school to support investigations into the deaths. Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura confirmed that the pathologist had joined the inquiry to help establish the cause of death.
The victims’ bodies were moved to Naivasha General Hospital, where government-supported DNA identification was expected to help families identify their loved ones.
The government has since announced the indefinite closure of the school.
