NAKURU, Kenya — Seven suspects linked to the deadly fire at Utumishi Girls Academy, which left 16 students dead, are expected to be arraigned in court on Tuesday as investigations continue to uncover a coordinated arson plan inside the school dormitory.
Detectives say the suspects, all students at the institution, were interrogated over several days at Gilgil Police Station, where officers from the Child Protection Unit worked alongside counsellors and homicide investigators handling the case.
Preliminary findings suggest the fire was not accidental but the result of a planned attack allegedly conceived and executed within a few hours on the night of the incident.
According to investigators, CCTV footage reviewed by detectives indicates that the plan to torch the dormitory was allegedly hatched at around 9 p.m. and executed shortly after midnight, at approximately 12:10 a.m.
The footage is said to have captured movements consistent with preparation for the incident, including the acquisition of suspected accelerants such as paraffin and matchboxes hours before the fire broke out.
Officials familiar with the probe say investigators are examining whether additional individuals, possibly outside the school, may have played a role in supplying materials used in the attack.
The timing of the incident has also drawn attention, with records indicating that Form Three students retire to bed at 9:35 p.m., while Form Four students go to bed at 10:35 p.m., a window investigators believe may have been exploited.
In their statements to detectives, the suspects reportedly cited a series of grievances against the school administration as contributing factors to the incident.
Among the claims raised were dissatisfaction over a change in the examination timetable, which students say was shifted from June 16 to June 2, as well as frustration over a cultural event that allegedly required students to make financial contributions.
Investigators also noted claims of peer influence, with some students allegedly referencing a strike at a neighbouring boys’ school as a motivating factor in their actions.
While these accounts are still under investigation, authorities say they are examining the broader context of student unrest and disciplinary tensions within the institution.
Homicide detectives continue to pursue additional suspects believed to have been involved in planning or facilitating the arson attack.
The presence of accelerants at the scene has raised questions about how the materials were obtained and whether external assistance was involved in bypassing school security systems.
Investigators have not ruled out the possibility of a wider network of involvement, even as they focus on the seven students currently in custody.
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The case has sparked national concern over safety in boarding schools, with education and security agencies under pressure to strengthen monitoring and prevent similar tragedies.
The tragedy at Utumishi Girls Academy has intensified scrutiny of boarding school safety standards across the country, particularly following a series of recent incidents involving fires and student unrest.
Authorities say the findings from the ongoing investigation will inform both criminal proceedings and broader policy decisions aimed at improving safety and discipline in learning institutions.
As the suspects prepare to be arraigned, detectives say the investigation remains active and further arrests cannot be ruled out.
