The heartbreaking tragedy, which unfolded shortly after midnight, has left the nation in mourning and sparked serious questions about safety standards in Kenyan boarding schools.
Investigators are now pursuing the possibility that the inferno may have been deliberately started, following claims from survivors that a group of students could have ignited a mattress inside the Meline Waithera dormitory before the fire rapidly spread through the building.
Although authorities have not officially confirmed the cause of the blaze, detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) say arson remains one of the key angles under active investigation.
According to survivors who escaped the deadly dormitory fire, panic erupted moments after flames were spotted inside the building.
Several students reportedly screamed for help as smoke quickly filled the rooms, making it difficult for many to find safe exits.
Some survivors claimed the dormitory doors were locked from the inside and that confusion over the location of the keys delayed rescue efforts at the most critical moment.
As the flames intensified, terrified students allegedly attempted to escape through windows, with some jumping from upper floors in desperation to save their lives.
A distraught parent who spoke outside the school said many of the fatal injuries occurred during the chaotic escape attempts after one of the exits became inaccessible.
“The children had nowhere to run. Some were forced to jump because the fire was spreading too fast,” the emotional parent said.
Authorities confirmed that at least 16 students died during the tragedy, while dozens of others sustained injuries of varying severity.
Several students were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment, with some later transferred to specialised facilities in Nairobi for advanced medical care.
The arrests of the 10 suspects come as detectives intensify efforts to establish exactly what happened before the fire broke out.
Police have not released the identities of those arrested, but sources indicate that interviews with survivors, teachers, support staff, and school administrators are ongoing.
Security officers have also been combing through the school compound and surrounding areas after reports emerged that some students fled during the confusion and remained unaccounted for hours later.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba ordered the immediate closure of the school to pave the way for investigations and ensure the safety of learners.
The institution has since been sealed off as forensic experts continue collecting evidence from the burnt dormitory.
School principal Joycelene Muraguri declined to discuss details of the incident publicly, stating that the matter was now fully under investigation by the DCI.
Meanwhile, devastated parents and guardians continued flocking to the school compound seeking information about their children.
Scenes of heartbreak unfolded as families desperately searched hospital lists and waited anxiously for updates from authorities.
The Ministry of Education has urged parents who already reunited with their children to report their status through official hotlines established to support verification efforts and counselling services.
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