The Kenyan government is facing a fresh crisis this evening. Eight students are in custody. They are suspected of starting a fire that killed dozens of their classmates. The attack happened at a school in central Kenya. Police say it was deliberate. A revenge plot, perhaps. Or a warning. The exact motive is unclear. Details are still leaking out.
This is a devastating blow to President Ruto's administration. They have been struggling to contain a wave of school unrest. Arson attacks have become a grim pattern. Students protest poor conditions. They set fire to dormitories. But this is the deadliest yet. The death toll is rising. Parents are furious. They are demanding answers.
Westminster takes note when events like this happen. Not just for the human tragedy. It matters for the UK's relationship with Kenya. Our aid budget, our trade deals, our diplomatic ties. All of it is in play. The Foreign Office will be watching closely. They will be calculating the political fallout.
The students in custody are aged between 14 and 19. They are being held at a local police station. Sources say they have confessed. But we must be cautious. Confessions can be coerced. There will be pressure to find scapegoats. The government needs a quick resolution. Heads must roll. Literally, if the public demands it.
This story is still developing. We are getting fragmentary reports. The death toll is expected to rise. Many are critically injured. The hospital is overwhelmed. The school is a scene of devastation. Blackened buildings. The smell of smoke. Crying parents. This is a national trauma.
For now, we wait. We watch the official statements. We listen to the leaks from inside the investigation. The picture will become clearer in the coming hours. But one thing is certain: the political repercussions will be felt for months. Kenya is a key ally in a volatile region. Instability there is a headache for Downing Street. Expect quiet diplomacy.
Eleanor Rigby, Political Bureau Chief, Whitehall.
