Arson suspected as Kenyan fire kills 58 pupils

Police suspect arson caused a fire at a school dormitory in Kenya which killed 58 boys.

Police suspect arson caused a fire at a school dormitory in Kenya which killed 58 boys.

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We have a strong suspicion of arson. There was a smell of petrol.
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Police spokesman

There are reports a student was seen running from the dormitory shortly before the fire broke out.

Another 28 boys were seriously hurt in the blaze at Kyanguli Secondary School near Machakos, 30 miles from Nairobi.

"We have a strong suspicion of arson. There was a smell of petrol," a police spokesman said.

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He said 130 boys between 15 and 19 had been sleeping in the building.

Mr Mackenzie Waema (19) who was sleeping in another dormitory about 330 feet away, said petrol had been spread throughout the other building and it was burning in the centre of the dormitory when he was awoken by screams and pounding noises.

"There was a misunderstanding between the administration and the students. They (the students) had grudges. Some of the students don't have good relations with the teachers. That could have brought this calamity," he said.

Several piles of bodies could be seen inside the building.

Most of Kenya's secondary school students attend boarding schools, either government-run or private. Disputes over mishandling of school funds, lack of facilities and quality of food and accommodation are common.

It is not uncommon for boarding school students to wreck buildings and classrooms to protest about corruption among school officials whom they accuse of stealing money paid for their fees.

PA