Eight students have been arrested in connection with a suspected arson attack at a girls' boarding school in Kenya that killed 16 students and injured 79 others, as authorities continue investigating the cause of the deadly fire.
The blaze broke out in the early hours of Thursday at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, west-central Kenya, destroying part of a dormitory and triggering a large-scale emergency response.
Police said the arrests followed interviews with students and staff, as well as forensic reviews of CCTV footage.
The National Police Service and the Directorate of Criminal Investigation identified the eight students as persons of interest in what investigators described as the planning and execution of the suspected arson attack.
Authorities said the eight students were detained for questioning after being traced and brought back for further investigations.
The students were among a larger group initially recalled by detectives examining the circumstances surrounding the fire.
Investigators have not yet confirmed the exact cause of the blaze.
The fire tore through the upper floor of a dormitory containing 135 bunk beds, resulting in significant casualties and injuries.
Officials said seven injured students were transferred to Nairobi for specialized treatment, while the remaining injured students received care and were later discharged.
The bodies of those who died have been moved to a nearby mortuary, where identification procedures, including DNA analysis, are underway.
Education Minister Julius Ogamba said preliminary findings revealed multiple violations of safety requirements at the school.
According to the minister, overcrowding in dormitories and a locked emergency exit may have contributed to the severity of the incident.
He also said early investigations suggested that information about an alleged plan by some students had been reported to two teachers but was not acted upon.
The government has dissolved the school's board of management and ordered legal and disciplinary action against any staff found to have neglected their responsibilities.
Meanwhile, anxious parents and relatives gathered at the school seeking information about their loved ones, while security was increased around the campus as demands for accountability intensified.
The tragedy has renewed scrutiny of safety standards in Kenyan boarding schools, where previous fatal fires have also raised concerns about overcrowding and compliance with emergency regulations.