A dormitory at Sameta Boys High School in Sameta Sub-County, Kisii County, was partially destroyed by fire on Monday afternoon, leaving several students with minor injuries but causing no fatalities.
The police visited the scene and established that the affected building was the Miriu Dormitory Block, which is divided into two sections- Miriu West and Miriu East.
Investigators found that Miriu West, which housed 151 students, was completely destroyed by the blaze.
However, emergency responders managed to contain the fire before it spread to Miriu East, allowing students’ belongings in that section to be rescued.
Members of the public and the Kisii County Fire Brigade responded to the incident and successfully extinguished the fire at around 2:50 p.m.
Seven students sustained minor cut injuries while attempting to salvage their personal belongings from the burning dormitory.
Six of the injured students were taken to Gucha Sub-County Level Four Hospital for treatment, while one was admitted to Sameta Med Care Hospital.
A member of the public who suffered a cut on the leg during the rescue efforts was also taken to Gucha Sub-County Level Four Hospital, police said.
Sameta Sub-County Police Commander Lucy Mugambi confirmed that no deaths were reported, while the cause of the fire remains unknown.
This is the latest such incident to happen amid rise in blazes in publis schools.
The most devastating one was the one at Utumishi Academy in Gilgil where 16 girls were killed in an arson.
Meanwhile, the seven suspects linked to the Utumishi Academy fire will be arraigned on Tuesday June 2, officials said. Police are investigating arson and murder.
In their statements, the girls reportedly told detectives they were protesting changes to the examination calendar, the school’s decision to charge them for a cultural event, and alleged peer influence after a neighbouring boys’ school went on strike.
According to the investigations, the plan to torch the dormitory was conceived at 9 p.m. and executed three hours later, as captured by CCTV cameras.
DCI officers from the Child Protection Unit and counsellors were also involved in the grilling session at the Gilgil Police Station.
Their grievances, they claim, were directed at the school administration, which they accused of changing the examination calendar from June 16 to June 2.
Other reasons cited include a cultural event planned by the school, for which students were allegedly required to pay, and peer influence from friends at a neighbouring boys’ school that had gone on strike a few days before the dormitory was set ablaze.
Investigations have also revealed that the decision to torch the dormitory was made three hours before the fire broke out.
Forensic analysis of CCTV footage has revealed the moment the plan was hatched, with matchboxes, mattresses and paraffin allegedly secured hours before the attack, which was carried out at 12:10 a.m.
Form Three students at the school retire to bed at 9:35 p.m., while Form Four students go to bed at 10:35 p.m.
Homicide detectives probing the case believe the plan may have involved more individuals, as the presence of paraffin suggests an outsider could have assisted in acquiring the commodity.
Detectives have confirmed they are pursuing additional suspects believed to have been involved in the arson attack.
Seven other students were injured in the incident and are in hospital in Nairobi.
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