Five girls are staring at a possibility of life in prison should the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) prefer arson charges against them.
In a statement on Tuesday, November 30, 2021, the National Police Service (NPS) announced that detectives in Machakos county had arrested five students from Masaani Girls Secondary School in connection to a fire incident that gutted down a dormitory at the school on November 5.
The five were arrested following investigations by sleuths from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) based in Machakos.
The five girls are believed to have been involved in setting ablaze a dormitory at the school leading to the destruction of students' and school property estimated at Ksh4 million.
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NPS noted that the students will be charged in court for Arson and related offences.
The police force further issued a warning to learners, informing them that Arson is a serious crime and could warrant life in prison if found guilty.
"It is worth noting that contrary to some myths and believes, being a student does not absolve one from criminal responsibility. Arson is a serious offence and is punishable by life imprisonment," NPS said.
The police force appealed to parents and all education stakeholders to continue motivating and counselling students against acts of indiscipline in schools.
"We ask parents and teachers to continuously remind students on the wages of every act of criminality. NPS will take tough action against any perpetrators, their accomplices and vendors of petroleum products and other flammables who are connected to fire incidences in schools," the statement read in part.
NPS called upon police officers across the thorough and expedite investigations into arson incidents in schools.
"We urge our officers to ensure fire incidences in schools are expeditiously investigated and culprits charged promptly," NPS urged.
