Eight students arrested over school unrest

At least eight secondary school students have been arrested for allegedly burning property worth millions of shillings at the Coast. The arrests comes at a time when schools in the region continue to witness a series of riots.

Some of the schools hit by student unrest include Mariakani, Moi High School, Kasighau, Marafa, Malindi, Kitobo and Timbila High School. Taita Taveta County Police Commander Richard Bitonga and Taveta Sub-county Education Officer George Awuoche said the students burnt down food stores and stationery plus other equipment worth millions of shillings.

Mr Bitonga said five students from Kitobo and three others from Timbila are in police custody. “We will charge the suspects once we are through with investigations,” said the police officer yesterday.

Elsewhere, a Form Four student at Maandani Secondary School in Kilifi County was yesterday arrested with a litre of petrol after his attempt to burn the school was foiled by police and school administration.

The student was found with the bottle of petrol inside his backpack and is alleged to have been planning to burn the school after the afternoon classes.

Kilifi County Commissioner Douglas Kanja said, “Police and the school administration got information that the student, a form four, was planning to burn the school in the afternoon he was immediately arrested and will be charged,” said Kanja.

Meanwhile, Moi High School Kasighau in Taita Taveta County has been closed and more than 320 students sent home after they burnt down property worth more than Sh5 million.