Gilgil: Eight students have been arrested in connection with a suspected arson attack at Utumishi Girls Senior Secondary School in Gilgil, Nakuru County, after a dormitory fire killed 16 girls and injured dozens of others, Kenyan investigators said Friday.
According to Anadolu Agency, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) reported that preliminary findings suggested possible planning behind the blaze. This conclusion was reached after conducting interviews with witnesses and reviewing surveillance footage.
The DCI stated, “We have conducted extensive interviews with students, teaching staff, and other witnesses and reviewed available CCTV cameras. Preliminary investigations have identified eight students as persons of interest in connection with the planning and execution of the suspected arson attack.” The eight girls have been arrested and are currently in police custody. Detectives are continuing to record statements and analyze all available evidence to reconstruct the sequence of events, establish the full circumstances of the incident, and determine the motive.
The investigation is led by a specialized multi-agency team that includes homicide detectives, forensic experts, crime scene investigators, intelligence officers, and DNA specialists. According to investigators, forensic examinations are focused on identifying the suspected point of origin of the fire, analyzing burn patterns, establishing potential ignition sources, determining whether accelerants were used, and examining electrical installations within the building.
Government pathologist Dr. Titus Ngulungu stated earlier that the victims were burned beyond recognition, necessitating DNA analysis before formal identification can be completed. The overnight fire occurred on Thursday morning, tearing through a dormitory at the boarding school, resulting in the deaths of 16 students and injuring 79 others. Authorities have confirmed that most of the injured students have been treated and discharged from the hospital.