Eight Students Detained After School Blaze Leaves 16 Dead
Authorities in Kenya have arrested eight girls on suspicion of arson following a devastating fire at Utumishi Girls Academy Senior School in Gilgil that killed 16 students and left dozens more injured.
The blaze tore through a dormitory area during the night, triggering panic as students attempted to escape. Emergency responders rushed to the scene, but the fire spread rapidly before it could be brought under control.
According to officials, 79 people were injured in the disaster, with several requiring hospital treatment. Investigators are now examining the cause of the fire and whether it was deliberately started.
The arrests come after an intensive investigation into the incident, which has shocked the nation and renewed concerns about school safety, dormitory conditions, and emergency preparedness at educational institutions.
Government officials have pledged a full investigation while families continue to mourn the victims of one of the country's deadliest school tragedies in recent years.