Kenya to charge students with murder over deadly school fire

Kenyan prosecutors have announced plans to bring murder charges against several students in connection with a suspected arson attack at a school last month. The fire broke out on May 28 at Utumishi Girls' School in Gilgil, about 120 km northwest of Nairobi, killing 16 pupils aged 15 to 18 and injuring dozens more. Eight students were arrested after police said they may have been involved in starting the fire by setting mattresses alight near an exit. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) approved the charges after reviewing the evidence, the state prosecutor's office said in a statement. The fire swept through the upper floor of a dormitory housing 202 students in 135 bunk beds, forcing them to flee through a single doorway as the emergency exit failed to open. Following interviews with students and staff and a forensic review of CCTV footage, eight pupils were identified as persons of interest in the planning and execution of the fire, police said. The suspects are in custody and are expected to be formally charged in court. The DPP's office stated that the suspects will face 16 counts of murder, but did not specify how many would be charged or when. The students are scheduled to appear in court in Naivasha on Wednesday. The Office of the DPP expressed concern over a recent rise in arson cases at learning institutions across the country and warned that those responsible would be held accountable. Education Minister Julius Ogamba said preliminary findings revealed multiple safety breaches at Utumishi Girls' School, including overcrowding in dormitories and a locked exit door. Kenya has a long history of school fires; just two years ago, at least 21 people died in a dormitory fire in central Kenya. Many fires in boarding schools have been linked to arson, with disgruntled students angry about disciplinary measures and living conditions often blamed, while others were accidental. Overcrowding and failure to follow safety guidelines, such as keeping exits clear and windows unlocked, have frequently been cited as factors leading to high casualties.