Learning at Maranda High School was disrupted after Form Three students were sent home indefinitely following a dormitory fire that broke out on Sunday evening. The incident has reportedly created tension between the Form Three students and their Form Four counterparts, forcing the school administration to take action to prevent further unrest.
According to the school management, the decision to close the section involving Form Three students was made on Monday morning after claims that the targeted dormitory mainly housed Form Four candidates.
The administration feared the situation could escalate into clashes between the two groups of students if immediate measures were not taken.
Police in Bondo confirmed that twelve Form Three students were arrested after they were allegedly found attempting to flee shortly after the fire started.
The students spent the night at Bondo Police Station before being handed over to the school administration as investigations continued.
Bondo Sub-County Police Commandant Robert Aboki said investigators obtained CCTV footage from petrol stations in Bondo town. The footage is said to show six of the detained students purchasing fuel believed to have been used during the attack.
Investigators believe the fire targeted the three-storey Owino “B” dormitory. Police alleged that the plan was organized during a sports event held on Saturday, where students reportedly contributed money before sneaking out of the school compound to buy petrol.
Authorities claim the fuel was secretly brought back into the school through a fence and hidden inside a dustbin before the attack was carried out on Sunday evening after tea break.
Police further alleged that the suspects, who were reportedly wearing masks and hoods, arranged mattresses and blankets along the corridors, poured petrol on them and set them on fire before escaping.
Although the fire was contained before spreading through the entire building, several personal belongings belonging to Form Four and Grade Ten students were destroyed. Police also recovered masks and clothing believed to have been discarded by the suspects in school toilets.
The twelve students are expected to appear in court on Tuesday to face arson-related charges as investigations continue.