At least eight students were arrested on Thursday over an arson incident at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, which claimed 16 lives.
The students were detained for questioning after they were traced to their homes and brought back to the school. Others who had not left the area were also traced and detained, police said.
The group was part of 30 students who were initially traced and recalled back to the school by detectives investigating the deadly fire in a dormitory as persons of interest.
Detectives believe the fire that broke out at the school was the work of arsonists.
A team pursuing the matter at Utumishi Girls Academy said they narrowed down to some students behind the incident after a long day’s interrogation of at least 50 people, including guards, students and management.
The students are believed to have escaped the scene as their colleagues burnt down the dormitory. The motive is yet to be known.
The parents of the students had camped at the school before they were informed the students were persons of interest and would spend the night at the school under interrogation.
“They have detained some of the students as suspects and the parents who were waiting have been told to leave the school now,” said one parent on Thursday night.
A police officer aware of the incident said the students were suspected arsonists. A team from the DCI headquarters joined officers on the ground in investigating the tragedy.
According to police reports, the incident occurred in a dormitory known as the Meline Waithera Block, which housed approximately 220 students drawn from Grade 10, Form Three and Form Four classes.
Preliminary findings from witnesses indicate the fire started at the main entrance and spread quickly through the dormitory. Some students shouted that there was fire, but by then it had already spread and covered the entrance.
Students attempted to escape through the main entrance, with some suffering burns in the process. Others who tried to escape through the dormitory’s emergency door were not as fortunate, as the emergency door was locked. Sixteen students were burnt beyond recognition at the emergency exit.
Survivors told police that security guards attempted to break open the emergency door to rescue the students, but it was too late. Investigators are also questioning why the school matron was absent and unreachable when the incident occurred.
Detectives were reviewing CCTV footage as a crucial element of the ongoing probe.
Dozens of other students were injured and taken to hospital. Education CS Julius Ogamba said at the scene of the blaze that 71 students were later discharged, while seven remained admitted for further treatment.
Rift Valley Regional Police Commander Samuel Ndanyi said seven of those still in hospital were flown to Nairobi for specialised care. The bodies remained at the scene as pathologists said DNA samples would be required to help identify the victims.
Anxious parents and relatives have been gathering at the scene waiting for news of their loved ones.
Ogamba said the fire broke out on the first floor of one of the dormitories, which was "completely destroyed" in the blaze.
"The response teams managed to put out the fire by about 03:00, but by then the damage had already been done," he said.
He added that the school would begin releasing students to their parents and guardians throughout the day as authorities continue investigations.
Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen, who was also among the officials gathered at the school, sent his condolences to the bereaved families.
"It's a very anxious moment and even as we account for the 16 so far identified as having passed on, I want to ask the people of Kenya that together we stand with the families... in prayer, in support.
"I ask everyone to be patient and avoid speculation," he said.
According to police, the fire in Gilgil broke out around 1:00 am and engulfed a dormitory block housing about 220 students. More than 800 children were in the school at the time of the tragedy.
