Six students were detained, and a half-litre of petrol was reportedly discovered at the scene of a dormitory fire at Mumbuni Boys Secondary School in Machakos.
Machakos County Police Commander, Patrick Lobolia, confirmed that the suspects were from Forms 3 and 4.
Lobolia indicated that the students, who had spent Thursday night in custody at the Machakos police station, were returned to the school, where the board of management will decide their future.
“The fire broke out exactly at midnight on Thursday and was reported by the school administration to Machakos police station. The OCS and his officers responded quickly and secured the area,” Lobolia stated.
Lobolia arrived shortly after and found both teachers and students attempting to control the fire with water.
The fire brigade later arrived, and together they were able to contain the blaze, which had destroyed part of the dormitory located at the far end of the school.
Fortunately, no students were injured, although all were present in the dormitory when the fire began. The affected dormitory housed 220 Form 2 and Form 3 students.