Three students from Murray Girls High School in Taita Taveta County are currently in police custody following a suspected arson attempt.
Confirming their arrest, Mwatate Sub County Police Commander Abdille Ahmed and said the suspects will be taken to court this week.
The police commander said officers recovered a jerry can full of petrol, firewood and books which the students were planning to use to torch one of the dormitories at the school with over 700 students.
“The Form Three students confessed that they wanted to burn the school and we recovered some exhibits from them. We will seek a custodial order to detain them and complete our investigations before charging them,” Ahmed said.
This brings to five the number of students so far arrested for alleged arson in the region. Two other students from St Mary’s Boys High School in Lushangonyi were also arrested for burning a dormitory last Sunday.
On the St Mary’s Boys incident, the boys are being held at Wundanyi Police Station.
“The students are being held for arson and destruction to property,” County Police Commander Patrick Okeri said.
County Director of Education Samuel Wanjohi said he had sent the sub-county Director of Education to the school to assess the damage caused by the inferno.
“I am still waiting for a full report about the matter,” said.
