Eight Kenyan students have been arrested in connection with a deadly arson attack on a school dormitory that killed at least 14 children and left dozens more injured. Sources confirm the suspects, all aged between 14 and 17, are believed to have set fire to the building at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County late Tuesday night.
Uncovered documents from the local police station show the arrests were made within hours of the blaze, following witness testimony that identified the group of teenagers loitering near the dormitory just before the fire started. The accused have been charged with murder and arson, and are currently held in a juvenile detention facility. Officials say they will appear in court tomorrow under tight security.
The fire tore through the wooden dormitory where more than 150 boys were sleeping. The cause of the fire was initially suspected to be an electrical fault, but investigators quickly focused on arson after finding evidence of accelerants at the scene. The school, a private boarding institution, has been closed indefinitely as the investigation continues.
This is not the first tragedy to strike a Kenyan school. In 2017, a fire at Moi Girls School in Nairobi killed 10 students and was later found to be arson. The government has repeatedly promised stricter safety measures, but critics argue that lax enforcement and inadequate funding continue to put children at risk.
The president has called for swift justice, stating that the perpetrators would face the full force of the law. Human rights groups, however, are urging caution, reminding authorities that the suspects are minors entitled to legal representation and a fair trial.
As the community reels from the loss, parents are demanding answers. Why were their children not safe? Who failed to protect them? The investigation is ongoing, and more arrests may follow.
