Students in court for setting dorm on fire

Students from Sipili Secondary School in Laikipia county were yesterday arraigned before a Nyahururu court for setting their school dormitory on fire.

The six students now face arson charges after the school lost property worth over Sh2 million.

Five of them Kelvin Mwangi, Benson Njuguna, Joseph Macharia, Moses Mbugua and Victor Gakure all denied the charges and were released on a Sh600,000 bond with surety of a similar amount.

Douglas Wahinya pleaded guilty and his case will be determined on July 30 this year.

Appearing before Nyahururu resident magistrate Peter Muhulo, the school boys were accused that on July 15 this year, they sneaked out of their school at night, went to purchase petrol at Sipili trading centre, returned to school and tried to set the dormitory on fire.

The charge sheet read that the school management got wind of the situation and prevented the incident from occurring.

The following day, the school management called for a meeting with the board of Governors to discuss the matter paving way for their suspension.

It was while they were in the meeting that the six set the dormitory on fire while the other students were in class.

The magistrate said the charges are serious and call for harsh penalties.

The six boys are currently locked up at Ngarua Police Station awaiting mention of their case.

The school has since been closed.