DCI Reviews CCTV Footage as Eight Students Face Questioning Over School Inferno
News Updated: 30 May 2026 09:54 EAT
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The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has arrested eight students from Utumishi Girls Senior Secondary School as investigations gather pace into the devastating dormitory fire that claimed the lives of 16 learners on Thursday, May 28. The students are being interrogated as detectives seek to establish the circumstances that led to one of the deadliest school tragedies in Kenya in recent years.
Investigators have launched an extensive forensic operation at the school, focusing on the gutted Meline Waithera dormitory where the fire broke out. Teams comprising fire experts, forensic specialists and crime scene investigators have been deployed to reconstruct the events leading up to the disaster and determine the exact origin of the blaze.
According to preliminary findings, detectives are examining allegations that the fire may have been deliberately started inside the dormitory. Several survivors have reportedly told investigators that a mattress was set ablaze before the flames spread rapidly through the building, engulfing large sections of the upper floor within minutes.
Forensic experts are currently analysing burn patterns within the structure to establish how the fire spread and whether accelerants were used. Investigators are also scrutinising electrical systems and wiring installations to rule out any possibility of an electrical fault contributing to the tragedy.
CCTV footage recovered from various sections of the school is being reviewed as part of the investigation. Detectives hope the recordings will provide crucial insights into movements around the dormitory before the fire and help identify anyone who may have been involved in planning or executing the suspected arson attack.
One of the key areas under investigation concerns claims that the dormitory's main entrance and emergency exit were locked from the inside at the time of the fire. Survivors have alleged that many students were trapped as smoke and flames quickly filled the building, making escape extremely difficult and contributing to the high death toll.
The fire left dozens of students injured, with many sustaining burns and fractures while attempting to escape through windows. Emergency responders and medical personnel rushed the injured to nearby hospitals, while grief-stricken families gathered at the school and medical facilities seeking information about their loved ones.
The tragedy has sparked renewed scrutiny of safety standards in boarding schools across the country. Authorities are examining whether existing fire safety regulations were adequately implemented and whether there were warning signs that may have been overlooked before the incident occurred.
As investigations continue, detectives are expected to rely heavily on forensic evidence, witness statements and digital surveillance records before making any final conclusions. The government has vowed to ensure accountability for those responsible, while families and the nation continue to mourn the loss of the 16 learners who perished in the inferno.
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FELIX MAKONA
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