23 girls, 5 boys arrested over plot to burn Kangaru schools

Police in Embu West sub-county are holding 23 students from Kangaru Girls and five from Kangaru (Boys) School alleged to have been planning to set ablaze their schools simultaneously.

According to Embu West Director of Criminal Investigations George Etiyang, five liters of petrol that was to be used was also nabbed during the Tuesday operation.

Etiyang said police officers were acting on a tip-off when they visited both schools and arrested the students whom they have been interrogating since morning to crack the plans.

He added that plans to raze down the schools were discovered on Sunday when the girls were said to be in communication with the boys through the fence.

“There has been tension in Kangaru Boys and Kangaru Girls since Sunday. It went on until yesterday (Monday) when we went into the schools and arrested the students,” said Etiyang.

The police boss stated that officers swung into action and arrested the students.

It is reported that the plan was for the boys to set ablaze the girls’ dormitories and the girls to reciprocate by setting on fire the boys’ dormitories.

Etiyang further intimated that the girls raised the funds to purchase the petrol that was to be used and were to cause a commotion to trigger unrest as they executed their plan.

Those arrested were all Form Three students in both schools.

The DCIO said that those found to be the masterminds of the plan will be prosecuted.