Three schools closed in Nyeri after walkouts and arson attacks

Parents inspect what was left after a fire destroyed a dormitory at Watuka Boys High School in Nyeri on July 26, 2016. One student was arrested and the school was closed. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mwiyogo Secondary School and Wamagana Girls Secondary School were also closed after students became rowdy.
  • At Watuka, a dormitory was set ablaze at about 8:30 pm as students were attending evening studies.

Three boarding schools in Nyeri County were closed on Tuesday following arson attacks and student walkouts, as the wave of school unrest continues.

One student has been arrested for allegedly torching a dormitory at Watuka Boys High School in Kieni West.

Two other schools, Mwiyogo Secondary School and Wamagana Girls Secondary School, were also closed after students became rowdy, with some choosing to walk out of the schools.

At Watuka, a dormitory was set ablaze at about 8:30pm as students were attending evening studies.

The fire spread quickly, gutting the dormitory and destroying student belongings.

School authorities suspected the fire was started by a disgruntled student who had been suspended after he was found with a mobile phone.

The student is reported to have failed to go home and was seen allegedly loitering in the school compound.

Police are holding the student at the Kiawara Police Station.

According to school Principal Charles Wambugu, the suspected arsonist used paraffin to set the dormitory on fire.

“From what we gather, he is the prime suspect because he was spotted around the dormitory by those who live around the school. The rest were in class,” said Mr Wambugu.

All students were sent home, with school officials saying the decision was made to quell rising tension among the students.

Mwiyogo Secondary School students reportedly went on the rampage, forcing the school administration to send them home.

At Wamagana Girls, students apparently walked out of the school on Tuesday at about 6am but it is not known what prompted the action.

(Editing by Joel Muinde)