Three students have been arrested for allegedly torching a dormitory at St. Mary’s Girls – Thigio in Ndeiya, Kiambu County last weekend.
According to the area Sub-county Director of Education Kariuki Mwangi, the students were arrested after preliminary investigations linked them to the Saturday night incident.
Kariuki also confirmed that the school had been closed indefinitely to allow for the reconstruction of the facility accommodating 250 students.
“We have decided to close the school to give room for assessment of the damage and the subsequent reconstruction of the dorm plus the adjacent one which was affected by the raging fire,” he said.
The officer further noted that no student was injured during the fire incident. However, several students were rushed to hospital after suffering trauma. They were attended to and discharged.
Limuru MP Kiragu Chege who was present during the school’s closure donated, 250 mattresses, noting that his administration will help the school’s reconstruction through the NG-CDF.
“We were not aware that the school was being closed and that’s why I brought the mattresses. Limuru NG-CDF will support parents and the national government to rebuild the dorms promptly,” he told the media.
Flanked by the school’s principal Ms Jerusha Kiara MP advised the administration to install surveillance cameras in the school in order to easily monitor every activity within the school compound.
“CCTV cameras should be installed in every corner of the school so that either intruders or unscrupulous students and workers can be captured and brought to book,” he said.
He attributed the arson to political activities happening across the country where people were causing mayhem and burning property and challenged the political class to be role models.
“When you hear the government outlawing violent demonstrations, it’s because the same is likely to replicate in institutions where wayward learners not ready to do their exams misbehave,” he said.
The three suspects will be arraigned in court tomorrow to face arson and destruction of property charges.
