Police arrest five pupils in dorm fire probe

By Kenan Miruka

Kisii,Kenya: Police have arrested five pupils in connection with last weekend’s dormitory fire at a boarding primary school in Gucha.

A dormitory housing 106 boys at Don Bosco Boarding Primary School was gutted by the fire which broke out at 6am on Friday. No students were injured in the incident but property worth an estimated Sh3 million was destroyed.

Police led by acting Ogembo OCS Daniel Musembi arrested the four Class Seven boys at the school. Police said one of them allegedly set the dormitory ablaze using a matchbox.

In his statement, the teenager told police he torched mosquito nets from which the fire spread. Other pupils were in the dining hall.

The minor was reportedly unhappy with mid-term exams scheduled to take place last Friday. He will be arraigned in court and charged with arson.

The school’s head teacher, Gilbert Mauti, appealed for emergency aid as it was difficult to accommodate the high number of affected pupils.

“We cannot close the school considering we just returned from the teachers’ strike. The pupils lost bedding, personal effects and books,” said Mauti.