Fresh details have emerged on why detectives are currently holding more than 30 students from Utumishi Girls Academy as investigations intensify into the tragic dormitory fire that killed 16 students in Gilgil, Nakuru County.
According to investigators, the students are assisting police with crucial information that could help establish the exact cause of the deadly blaze that broke out during the night and left the country in shock.
Authorities suspect the fire may have been deliberately started, although officials insist no final conclusion has yet been reached as forensic investigations continue.
Detectives and forensic experts reportedly spent several hours inside the school compound collecting evidence from the burnt dormitory, examining possible ignition points and trying to reconstruct how the inferno spread so rapidly through the building.
Police sources indicate that some students who had initially been released to return home with their parents were later recalled to record additional statements after new information reportedly emerged during the investigation.
Investigators are also reviewing accounts from teachers, support staff, security personnel and survivors who escaped the burning dormitory.
One of the key issues now under investigation is whether the affected dormitory was locked at the time the fire broke out.
Claims by survivors suggesting that students struggled to access exits during the emergency have raised serious concerns among parents and the public.
Detectives are now examining whether delayed access to exits may have contributed to the high number of deaths and injuries witnessed during the tragedy.
Several survivors described terrifying scenes as smoke filled the dormitory and panicked students scrambled for escape routes while screaming for help.
Some reportedly attempted to escape through windows as flames spread across sections of the building.
Emergency response teams later arrived at the school and managed to contain the fire before it spread to nearby structures.
Meanwhile, several injured students remain admitted to different hospitals as families continue waiting for answers over what exactly triggered one of the deadliest school fires in recent years.
Education officials and local leaders have appealed to the public to remain patient and allow investigators to complete their work without interference or speculation.
Authorities have emphasized that none of the students currently assisting detectives has been formally charged with any offence.
Police say the ongoing process is purely investigative and aimed at establishing all facts surrounding the incident before any official conclusions are made.
The tragedy has reignited national debate about fire safety standards in Kenyan boarding schools, with parents and education stakeholders demanding stricter emergency preparedness measures, better evacuation systems and regular safety inspections in learning institutions.
The Ministry of Education is now expected to work closely with security agencies and disaster management experts to recommend reforms aimed at preventing similar tragedies in the future.
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