Eight students arrested after deadly school fire kills 16 in Kenya

Authorities in Kenya have arrested eight students in connection with a deadly fire that killed 16 students at an all-girls boarding school, with investigators now treating the incident as a suspected act of arson.

The fire broke out in the early hours of Thursday, May 28, at Utumishi Girls Senior Secondary School in Gilgil, Nakuru County, according to the Kenya Red Cross and local officials. The blaze spread through a dormitory while students were asleep, leading to widespread casualties and injuries.

In a statement issued Friday, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) confirmed that eight students had been identified as “persons of interest” following initial inquiries into the incident.

“Investigators have conducted extensive interviews with students, teaching staff, and other witnesses, while forensic teams carry out a detailed review of available CCTV footage,” the DCI said. “Preliminary investigations have identified eight students as persons of interest in connection with the planning and execution of the suspected arson attack.”

The agency added that the students had since been taken into custody as detectives continue to gather evidence and reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the fire.

Authorities said their investigation is ongoing, with a focus on determining both the circumstances and possible motive behind the deadly blaze.

The Kenya Red Cross reported that 123 students were affected in total, with dozens requiring medical treatment for injuries sustained during the incident. Some students reportedly jumped from upper floors of the two-storey dormitory in a desperate attempt to escape the flames.

“They had to jump out, that’s why they are injured,” one relative of a student told the BBC, describing how her cousin suffered a broken leg after escaping the building.

Emergency response teams, including the Kenya Red Cross, have been providing medical and psychosocial support to survivors and families as recovery efforts continue.

Community leaders and education authorities are also reportedly reviewing school safety and fire preparedness measures in the aftermath of the tragedy.

The DCI extended condolences to the families of the victims and urged the public to remain calm as investigations continue.

“The National Police Service conveys its deepest condolences to the bereaved families… We also wish a swift recovery to all those receiving medical treatment,” the statement read.

Officials emphasized that the investigation remains active and that further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.