11 students arrested after botched arson attempt

St Mary's Kibabii High School [Courtesy]

11 students from St Mary’s Kibabii Boys High School, Bungoma County, were on Tuesday arrested after a botched arson attempt.

They intended to set ablaze one of the dormitories before the teacher on duty noticed something sinister.

According to the school’s Principal Nichodemus Ogeto, the teacher informed him that the smell of petrol was emanating from one of the dormitories. At the time, the students were in class for evening preps.

Police officers were immediately contacted by the institution and after a thorough search, two empty 1-litre water bottles and a half-litre bottle containing petrol were found hidden under one of the beds.

Six blankets had also been soaked in petrol.

As a result, all students from the affected dormitory were given alternative places to sleep and the suspects are currently detained at Bungoma Police Station for interrogation.

Police officers are also keeping watch over the institution.

Elsewhere, 12 students of Ingotse Boys High School appeared before Kakamega Senior Principal Magistrate after they were found with half-a-litre of petrol in school.

The 12 denied charges leveled against them and the case will be mentioned on February 15, 2021.