Utumishi Girls Dormitory Fire: CCTV Footage Provides Fresh Leads as Investigations Intensify
The recordings, which show student movements before the blaze, have aided detectives in identifying suspects, with eight students already arrested as authorities work to establish the cause and motive behind the incident.
CCTV footage provides fresh leads as detectives intensify investigations into Utumishi Girls dormitory fire. Photo/Courtesy
By Fredrick Oseko
Investigations into the fire that razed a dormitory at Utumishi Girls High School in Gilgil have gained momentum after the emergence of CCTV footage that could help detectives piece together the events leading up to the incident.
The footage, which was obtained by Citizen TV, is now a key part of the ongoing probe into the Wednesday night fire. Investigators say the recordings capture several students moving around the school compound shortly before the blaze erupted, offering crucial leads in the case.
According to detectives, the footage is helping authorities reconstruct the timeline of events and identify individuals who may have been involved in planning or executing the suspected arson attack.
“The CCTV footage has been carefully reviewed alongside witness statements and other evidence collected from the scene,” said lead investigator Martin Nyuguto.
“Our objective is to establish the sequence of events, identify all those involved, and determine the motive behind the incident,” he added.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has so far arrested eight students in connection with the fire. Among them is a learner believed to have played a central role in organizing the alleged attack.
While no fatalities were reported, the inferno caused significant destruction to the dormitory, displacing numerous students and disrupting learning activities at the school. Property of substantial value was also destroyed, although the full extent of the losses is yet to be established.
Investigators have indicated that the inquiry remains active and that additional arrests may be made as more evidence emerges.
“The investigation is ongoing, and we are pursuing all available leads. Anyone found to have participated in the incident will be held accountable under the law,” a source close to the investigation said.
Detectives are also seeking to determine whether the fire was premeditated or stemmed from a dispute among students.
The incident has reignited concerns over rising cases of student unrest and the destruction of school property across the country. Education stakeholders have called for strengthened guidance and counselling programmes in schools to help address student grievances before they escalate into acts of vandalism.
Authorities have assured the public that a thorough investigation will be conducted and that all individuals found culpable will face appropriate legal action once the probe is concluded.
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