Detectives are investigating 16 students
from Kapenguria Boys High School following a fire that destroyed an
equipment store and damaged part of the school’s library, with losses
estimated at Sh7 million.
The fire broke out on the night of June 8, 2026, between 10 p.m. and
midnight while students were in their dormitories.
Security personnel stationed at the school were the first to spot smoke
billowing from the equipment store, which housed solar power equipment. The
flames later spread to a section of the library before emergency responders
contained the blaze.
The incident triggered a multi-agency investigation involving the County Fire
Department, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and the Crime
Scene Investigation Unit, which processed the scene to establish the cause of
the fire and assess the extent of the damage.
According to the Quality Assurance Department, the fire destroyed solar
equipment and damaged part of the library, with losses estimated at
approximately Sh7 million.
The school was temporarily closed to allow detectives to conduct
investigations before learning resumed.
However, before reopening, parents were instructed to clear outstanding
school fees and pay an additional Sh11,270 per student, a directive that
raised concerns among some parents who questioned the basis of the levy
before the full cost of the damage had been confirmed.
On the night of July 10, DCI detectives arrested 16 students suspected of
involvement in the fire. The students were later released to their parents as
investigations continued.
Kapenguria and Kipkomo Sub-County DCIO Bakari Ndzovu said the arrests
were intended to facilitate investigations, particularly the analysis of CCTV
footage captured by surveillance cameras installed around the school.
“We are analyzing all available evidence, including CCTV
footage and witness statements. Any person found
culpable will be arraigned in court in accordance with the
law,” Ndzovu said.
The DCIO disclosed that only one of the 16 students under investigation is
above the age of 18, while the remaining suspects are minors.
“Under Kenya’s legal framework, minors are not required to
remain in police cells during investigations,” he explained.
The incident has drawn public interest, with parents and education
stakeholders seeking clarity on the additional levy imposed on students and
the manner in which the investigations are being conducted.
Efforts by journalists to obtain a response from the school’s principal, Moses
Ndeda, were unsuccessful by the time of publication.
Ndzovu urged schools across the country to strengthen surveillance by
installing Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) systems, saying the technology
has become an important tool in crime detection.
“CCTV cameras provide crucial evidence that helps
investigators establish what happened and who may have
been involved. Schools should consider investing in such
systems to enhance security,” he said.
He also appealed to parents to maintain open communication with their
children and encourage them to resolve grievances through lawful and
established channels.
“We urge learners to desist from acts of arson and
destruction of school property. Anyone found responsible
for criminal offences will face the full force of the law,”
Ndzovu warned.
Detectives say investigations are ongoing and that any further action,
including possible prosecutions, will be guided by forensic findings, CCTV
analysis, and other evidence collected during the probe.
