Investigators processing the scene on Thursday said preliminary findings point to a suspected arson attack, although authorities are still working to establish the exact cause of the late-night inferno.
DCI officers have already questioned more than 20 students, the school matron, security guards and members of the school administration as part of efforts to reconstruct the events leading up to the tragedy.
The detectives arrived at the school determined to uncover both the motive and the source of the fire, which tore through the Meline Waithera dormitory block and left one of the country’s most devastating school tragedies in recent years.
Police said witness accounts and early evidence collected from the scene suggest the fire may have started at the main entrance of the dormitory before spreading rapidly through the building.
According to investigators, students attempted to escape through the main entrance as flames and smoke engulfed the dormitory. Some reportedly sustained burn injuries while trying to flee.
However, the situation turned tragic for those who rushed toward the emergency exit. Preliminary findings indicate that the emergency door was locked at the time of the fire, preventing several students from escaping.
Authorities said 16 students were found burnt beyond recognition near the emergency exit, raising serious questions about safety measures and emergency preparedness at the institution.
The shocking revelation has intensified scrutiny over compliance with fire safety regulations in boarding schools, particularly the accessibility of emergency exits during emergencies.
Investigators are expected to continue interviewing students and staff members to determine whether there had been any warning signs, disputes or suspicious activity before the fire broke out.