Detectives in Meru County have arrested six students from Njia Boys Secondary School in Igembe Central Constituency following a fire incident where a dormitory was burnt down.
The six are being investigated over the cause of the inferno that completely burnt down all bedding materials including mattresses, bedsheets and blankets, as well as clothing and other personal effects.
Inside the dorm that was gutted down. The suspects are in police custody to assist in investigation.
The suspects will be arraigned in court once investigations are completed.
Confirming the incident, Meru County Commissioner Jacob Ouma said that the six were identified through CCTV camera footage.
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“Through the CCTV cameras around the school, six suspects were identified and were arrested by DCI for questioning. We will open files of inquiry for them to be charged, because we cannot tolerate such indiscipline cases,” said Ouma.
He noted that the Meru County security team and directorate of education have unanimously resolved that any student found to have participated in arson will face the full force of the law.
“We have agreed that any culprit involved in torching school property will not be punished according to school rules but according to the law. We shall treat them as criminals,” cautioned the County Commissioner.
Ouma said that they are inspecting schools, and those that will not have complied with the set safety regulations will be closed.
“I am happy because all the schools that we have visited have dormitories that are up to standards as per the set security measures,” he hinted.
However, Ouma said that various agencies are probing the increased school fire incidences that are being witnessed currently.
Meanwhile, the school principal Alex Karuma said that the dormitory that was gutted down housed 160 students.
Alex Karuma, the principal of the school, confirmed the incident, saying the dorm housed 160 students.
He said that nothing was salvaged from the inferno and confirmed that all students are safe.
“Since the incident occurred, we have conducted roll calls several times and established that all students are in school. We are relieved that no injuries were recorded,” said the principal.
By John Majau
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