Fire burns two dormitories at Wang'uru Girls in Kirinyaga

Property worth millions of shillings was destroyed on Monday when a huge fire broke out at Wang'uru Girls Secondary School in Kirinyaga County.

The fire started at 5am when students were attending early morning studies.

Two dormitories were gutted in the fire.

Firefighters from Kirinyaga and Embu counties helped to put out the blaze, which had consumed mattresses, uniforms, books, bags and boxes, among other property belonging to students.

Julius Maina, a night guard, said he was at the school gate when he heard his colleagues screaming for help.

"I rushed to the scene immediately after the alarm was raised and I found a huge fire engulfing the dormitories. I joined the school workers in putting out the fire ,which was spreading very fast," he said.

Mr Maina said were it not for the firefighters, the fire could have spread to the other adjacent dormitories.

School Principal Karen Mbugua told journalists that it could not be immediately established who burnt the buildings.

"We are assessing the situation before we decide whether the students should be sent home or not," said Ms Mbugua.

STUDENTS QUESTIONED

On Sunday evening, 15 students were picked up by criminal investigations officers and taken to the local police station following reports that there was a plot to burn the school.

The girls were grilled for six hours and then returned to the school after recording statements.

"It is true that prior to the incident the girls were picked up, questioned and then released," said Mwea East police boss Mutoro Kizito.

Mr Kizito explained that the girls were freed after it was established that there was no evidence they had planned to commit any crime.

The police boss said all students were attending morning studies when the fire broke out and it was likely the dormitories were burnt by arsonists from outside the school.

"No student can be linked to this serious incident. Some people from outside could have waited until students proceeded to the classrooms for morning studies to burn the dormitories for reasons which are yet to be established," said Mr Kizito.

In a related incident, students at Kiburu Boys Secondary School went on the rampage at dawn and pelted classrooms and the administration block with stones.

They broke glass windows and chased away the night guards. Police responded and dispersed them.

A teacher, who wished not to be named, said the students caused the chaos because they did not want to sit examinations.

(Editing by Joel Muinde)