Eight students have been arrested in connection with the deadly fire tragedy at Utumishi Girls Senior Secondary School in Gilgil, Nakuru County that claimed the lives of 16 students.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the students were identified as persons of interest following preliminary investigations into the suspected arson attack.
“Preliminary investigations have identified eight students as persons of interest in connection with the planning and execution of the suspected arson attack,” the DCI stated.
In a statement on Friday, DCI said the eight girls have since been arrested and are currently in police custody.
The fire broke out on Thursday, at the school’s Meline Waithera Dormitory, prompting a large-scale emergency response involving multiple government agencies and humanitarian organisations.
According to the DCI, a specialized investigation team led by the Director of Homicide has since taken over the case after rescue and emergency operations were concluded.
The emergency response was coordinated by the National Police Service (NPS) with support from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), National Youth Service (NYS), Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS), Nakuru County Government, Kenya Forest Service (KFS), the National Disaster Management Unit (NDMU), and the Ministry of Education.
The DCI said forensic experts and crime scene investigators have already processed the dormitory as investigations intensify.
“The multi-agency investigation team, comprising highly specialized personnel including Crime Scene Investigators (CSIs), Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CR&IB) officers from the Forensic Imaging and Acoustics Unit, and forensic DNA experts, has processed the scene at Meline Waithera Dormitory,” the statement read.
Investigators established that the affected dormitory is a two-storey building, with the upper floor suffering extensive fire damage while the ground floor remained largely intact. The upper section reportedly contained 12 cubicles accommodating 135 double-decker beds.
“A meticulous examination of the scene led to the recovery of sixteen bodies, all of which were moved to Naivasha Sub-County Referral Hospital Mortuary pending post-mortem examinations and formal identification,” the DCI said.
Detectives and forensic experts remain at the scene as authorities work to establish the exact cause of the fire. Investigators are analysing burn patterns, examining electrical installations, and determining whether accelerants may have been used.
The DCI added that detectives have conducted extensive interviews with students, teachers, and witnesses, while forensic teams continue reviewing available CCTV footage.
“Detectives continue to record statements and analyse all available evidence to reconstruct the sequence of events, establish the full circumstances of the incident, and determine the motive,” the agency stated.
Police condoled with the affected families and wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the tragedy.
Authorities have also appealed to parents, guardians, and members of the public to remain calm and allow investigations to proceed without interference.
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