Detectives have detained more than 10 students from Utumishi Girls Academy as investigations intensify into the deadly dormitory fire that killed 16 learners and left several others injured.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

Police believe the inferno, which broke out on Thursday, May 28, at around 12:45 am, could have been an arson attack that gutted the upper floor of one of the dormitories, trapping students inside.

According to investigators, at least 79 other students sustained serious injuries during the incident and were rushed to various hospitals for treatment, with 71 later released in stable condition.

Detectives handling the case have reportedly isolated the students inside one of the school blocks, where they spent Thursday night under police custody as questioning continued.

📌 What You Need to Know

Similarly, several other learners who had left the institution in the company of their parents and guardians have also been recalled to assist with the ongoing investigations.

The police are pursuing multiple leads, including claims by survivors that security lights within the school compound are routinely switched off every night at exactly 10:10 pm.

Investigators are also probing allegations that the burnt dormitory may have been locked from the outside , potentially preventing students from escaping when the fire started.

Additionally, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations is investigating whether exam-related pressure ahead of the Tuesday, June 2 examinations may have contributed to the suspected arson attack.

Meanwhile, a government pathologist involved in the investigation revealed that some of the bodies recovered from the scene were burnt beyond recognition, complicating the identification process.

At the time of the incident, the institution had a total population of 815 girls, with 808 students present at the school during the incident, while seven others were reportedly away from the institution for undisclosed reasons.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke