Students of Ikuu Boys torch dorm, walk out of school

Ikuu Boys High School in Tharaka Nithi County has been closed indefinitely after learners walked out hours following a fire that saw three dormitories go up in smoke. 

According to the principal, Mr Joseph Mbae, the Sunday night fire that consumed the 480-capacity dorms started at around 11pm.

Speaking to the Nation on Monday, Mr Mbae said 35 students were arrested by police on suspicion of being masterminds of the arson. They are still being questioned at Chuka Police Station. 

He said that although the institution could not fully account for the safety of 243 students who ran out of the school during the commotion, there was no reported case of injury by Monday morning.

How unrest began

He said Sunday was peaceful until they retired to the dorms after evening preps at 10pm.

But at around 10:30pm, while in his office, Mr Mbae spotted on his CCTV camera screen a group of students outside the dormitories. He immediately rushed there only to find that they had started breaking window panes.

With help from the night guards and other teachers, the principal tried to contain the students but the learners overpowered them and he had to call local police for reinforcement.

He said the police delayed to respond, and he had to drive to the station about six kilometers away to pick them up. By the time they arrived, the three dormitories had gone up in smoke. 

Tharaka Nithi County firefighters managed to put out the fire before it consumed a fourth dormitory.

“When the police started shooting in the air to disperse the rioting students, about 243 of the total 1,030 walked out of the school and spent the rest of the night in the bushes, though some returned in the morning,” said Mr Mbae.

The national school's board of management agreed to close it indefinitely and asked parents to pick their children.

Students who spoke to the media on condition of anonymity said they were protesting harassment by prefects and a punitive administration.

This was backed by some parents, who confirmed that their boys had for a long time complained of harassment.

Both parents and journalists were barred from entering the school premises until investigators at the scene were done with collecting information.

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