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At least eight students have been arrested in connection with an arson investigation at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, where a dormitory fire claimed 16 lives.
Police said the students were picked up from their homes and returned to the school for questioning, while others who were still within the area were also traced and detained. Authorities confirmed that the group is part of 30 students initially identified as persons of interest in the ongoing investigation.
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Detectives believe the deadly fire was deliberately set, and have since focused their probe on suspected arsonists. A team handling the case said the suspects were identified after extensive interrogation of at least 50 individuals, including students, security guards, and school administrators.
The students are alleged to have fled the scene as the dormitory was engulfed in flames. However, investigators say the motive behind the incident remains unknown.
Parents who had gathered at the school were informed late Thursday that some students had been detained as suspects and would remain at the institution for further questioning, prompting them to leave.
One parent described the moment as tense, saying families were asked to vacate the school as investigations continued.
A senior police officer confirmed that the detained students are considered suspects, with officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters joining the local team to advance the probe.
According to preliminary reports, the fire broke out at the Meline Waithera Block, a dormitory housing about 220 students from Grade 10, Form Three, and Form Four.
Witnesses said the blaze began at the main entrance and spread rapidly through the building. Some students raised alarm, but the fire had already engulfed critical escape routes.
Attempts to flee through the main exit caused chaos, while others tried using the emergency door, which was reportedly locked. Sixteen students were later found burnt beyond recognition at the emergency exit.
Survivors told investigators that security personnel attempted to force open the emergency door, but rescue efforts came too late. Authorities are also examining the absence of the school matron at the time of the incident.
CCTV footage from the school is currently being reviewed as part of the investigation.
Dozens of injured students were rushed to hospital. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba confirmed that 71 students had been discharged, while seven remained admitted for further treatment.
Rift Valley Regional Police Commander Samuel Ndanyi said seven critically injured students were airlifted to Nairobi for specialised care. The bodies of the deceased remain at the scene as forensic teams await DNA testing to assist in identification.
Grieving parents and relatives continue to gather at the school seeking updates on their children.
Ogamba said the fire broke out on the first floor of a dormitory that was completely destroyed before emergency teams managed to contain it around 3:00 a.m.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen expressed condolences to the affected families and urged calm as investigations continue.
He called on the public to avoid speculation, noting that authorities are working to establish the exact cause of the tragedy.
Police reports indicate that the fire started around 1:00 a.m., engulfing a dormitory housing approximately 220 students. The school had more than 800 learners at the time of the incident.
