Eight students charged with attempted arson freed on bail

The eights students of Ntulele Boys Secondary School after attending court sessions at Narok Law Court. They were released on Sh30,000 bond each and surety of similar amount. (PHOTO: ROBERT KIPLAGAT/ STANDARD)

Eight students from Ntulele Secondary School charged with attempted arson have been released on Sh30,000 bail each and sureties of a similar amount by a Narok court.

According to the charge sheet, the Form Two students were arrested on July 13, after the police were called to investigate their suspicious behaviour.

The eight, who appeared before Principal Magistrate Titus Gesora, pleaded not guilty.

The police carried out a thorough search in the school and found three litres of petrol.

The students' lawyer, Martin Kamwaro, called for the protection of his clients because they were minors. The case will be heard on September 12.

Meanwhile, police are investigating an incident in which students of Oljoro Boys in Narok North allegedly chased their teachers out of the school on Monday night because they were too strict.

Area Deputy OCPD Charles Omollo said the students smashed the window panes of classrooms and the dormitory.

"Our officers, together with local education officers, are now on the ground investigating the incident that happened around midnight," said Mr Omollo.

And 19 students from Kiambogo High School in Naivasha have been arrested after the institution's dormitory was razed on Monday night.

Also arrested was a trader who allegedly sold petrol to the boys. Property worth millions of shillings was destroyed in the fire.

According to one of the students, the fire started at around 9pm just as they were leaving their classrooms after evening studies.

The Naivasha deputy sub-county administrator, Veronicah Gachambi, said the fire was reported at around 9.30pm.

She said a boys' dormitory was completely burnt down and nothing was salvaged. There were no injuries.

Security expert Richard Tutah has said the arson cases should be dealt with as crimes rather than cases of indiscipline.

Mr Tutah said based on the ongoing incidents, it was evident that some parties had failed in their duties, leading to increased cases of student unrest.

"Someone has failed to read the signals and it is evident that there is a communication breakdown between the school management and students," he said.