42 students charged with arson

Wang'apala High School, in Homa Bay County, students look through their properties which were damaged in a dormitory fire on July 23, 2016. In Narok, five students from Ololulung’a Secondary School were charged with attempted arson of a dormitory. PHOTO | TOM OTIENO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • In Murang’a, 32 students from three schools were charged with counts of attempted arson and others with burning their institution.
  • In Nyeri, two boys of Mweru High School were arrested Monday after they were caught purchasing petrol in a suspected arson attempt.

Forty two students were Monday charged separately over the spate of arson attacks that have hit secondary schools.

In Murang’a, 32 students from three schools were charged with counts of attempted arson and others with burning their institution.

The students from Gaturi Girls, St Paul’s Boys and Dr Gitau Secondary Schools, who were arrested at the weekend, appeared before Murang’a Principal Magistrate Antony Mwicigi.

Their parents jammed the court room to follow proceedings.

The students were released on a bond of Sh50,000 each with a surety of similar amount or cash bail of Sh10,000.

They will appear in court on August 8, when a report from the Children’s Department is expected to be taken to court. 

In the same court, a secondary school teacher was charged with incitement to violence.

Mr Evanson Macharia, a teacher at Kiaguthu Boys, was accused of circulating an offensive message last Friday through WhatsApp.

He was released on a Sh50, 000 bond or Sh10,000 cash bail. The case will be heard on September 15 this year.

In Nyeri, two boys of Mweru High School were arrested Monday after they were caught purchasing petrol in a suspected arson attempt.

According to Mukurwe-ini OCPD Jonathan Muli, the students had asked a boda boda rider in Mihuti town, three kilometres from their school, to buy either petrol or paraffin for them.

But the rider reported the matter to the area assistant chief who informed police.

The students were arrested and taken to Mukurwe-ini police station to record statements as investigations started.

In Nakuru, three Form Four girls of Nyakiambi Secondary School in Nyandarua County appeared before Chief Magistrate David Kemei and were accused that they attempted to burn their dormitory on Saturday.

Their lawyer, Mr David Mongeri, told the court they were not conversant with the charges and requested a probation report to be produced in court.

The case was deferred to August 8 when the reports will be produced in court. They were released on a Sh5,000 cash bail each.

In Narok, five students from Ololulung’a Secondary School were charged with attempted arson of a dormitory.

The court heard that on July 22, the students were found in possession of five-litre jerry cans of petrol and matchboxes. They denied the charges.

Chief Magistrate Wilbroda Juma released three of the students on a bond of Sh250,000 each after the court was informed that they were above 18.

The court ordered that the other two be held until an age assessment report is taken to court. The case will be heard on August 18 and 19.

Reported by Nicholas Komu, Irene Mugo, Martin Mwaura, George Sayagie and Millicent Maube