Kenyan authorities have arrested eight students in connection with a dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, which claimed the lives of 16 students and left dozens injured.
Investigators said the arrests followed a forensic review of closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage that allegedly captured events leading to the deadly fire in the early hours of May 28.
According to preliminary findings, the incident began around 12:10 a.m. when five students were seen entering the dormitory while most occupants were asleep.
Detectives said the footage showed the students moving quietly through the building before stopping briefly at one section of the dormitory and proceeding further inside.
Investigators alleged that one of the students attempted to conceal her face from surveillance cameras while carrying a slipper believed to have been used to muffle footsteps.
Authorities said three of the students were later seen moving toward the dormitory entrance, leaving two others behind.
The two students allegedly ignited an initial fire before proceeding to another section of the dormitory where mattresses were stored and starting a second blaze.
Investigators said the second fire spread rapidly, engulfing large sections of the building within minutes.
According to the findings, the students allegedly left the dormitory without raising an alarm after confirming that the fires had taken hold.
By about 12:13 a.m., panic had broken out among students as smoke and flames spread through the sleeping quarters.
Authorities said many students struggled to escape as the fire intensified and blocked access to the main exit route.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the fire started near the dormitory’s primary entrance, which served as the main evacuation point.
Detectives further alleged that kerosene had been applied around the entrance area, accelerating the spread of the flames and cutting off escape routes for occupants.
The fire resulted in the deaths of 16 students, while 79 others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Investigators said 10 victims were found near the entrance area where the fire was believed to have originated, while six others were discovered deeper inside the dormitory.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said forensic experts conducted an enhanced review of the CCTV footage at the National Police Service Forensics Laboratory, leading to the identification of the suspects.
According to the agency, the analysis was carried out in collaboration with school authorities and teachers, enabling investigators to confirm the identities of students allegedly involved in the arson.
The DCI said investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident were ongoing, while authorities continue efforts to establish the full sequence of events leading to the tragedy.
The fire has sparked renewed concerns about safety standards in boarding schools and the need for improved emergency preparedness in educational institutions across Kenya.
