Six students from Hospital Hill School in Nairobi have been arrested in connection with a fire that broke out at the institution.
The fire, which disrupted school operations, is part of a disturbing trend of arson incidents affecting schools across the country.
Authorities report that the students were handed over to the police by the school administration, along with the Westlands Subcounty Director of Education.
The students are suspected of either playing an active role in starting the fire or having prior knowledge of the incident.
They are currently being held at the Gigiri Police Station, where they are undergoing interrogation to determine their level of involvement.
This latest incident has raised concerns about the increasing number of school fires, sparking calls for urgent measures to prevent further damage to educational institutions.
School fires have become a major issue in Kenya, particularly in the final months of the school calendar, often disrupting exams and causing significant property damage.
In a separate but related case, a dormitory at Tututha Mixed Secondary School was destroyed in another fire on Monday.
The dormitory, which housed 116 students, was completely gutted by the blaze.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the students lost personal belongings and were left without accommodation.
The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, but investigations are ongoing.
The rising frequency of school fires has led to increased security measures in schools, with education stakeholders and security personnel working to ensure the safety of students and school properties.
Authorities are now investigating whether there is a pattern linking the fires or if they are isolated incidents caused by student unrest.
Kenyan schools have experienced sporadic arson cases over the years, particularly during examination periods.
The Ministry of Education, alongside local authorities, has urged schools to be vigilant and has called for the reinforcement of disciplinary measures to curb such incidents.
The students involved in the Hospital Hill case may face serious charges if found guilty of starting the fire, including arson and endangering lives.
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