4 students jailed for burning dormitory in Machakos

Four students from Kithimani HGM Secondary in Machakos County have been sentenced to one year in jail for burning the school dormitory.

The students reportedly burnt down the dormitory valued at Ksh.1.6 million on July 31, 2016.

Appearing before Kithimani Resident Magistrate Gilbert Shikwe, the four – Antony Mwathika Hanjari, Dennis Waingwa Ndung’u, Stephen Ndonga Kago and Newton Njoroge – were found guilty of the crime.

The accused were given 14 days to appeal the ruling.

The ruling comes on the backdrop of the recent wave of arsonist cases that have hit and left over ten schools in the country closed.

During an announcement on Monday, Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed said tough disciplinary action will be taken against students found culpable in the school protest cases.

CS Amina further stated that three students have so far been jailed and 125 others arrested following the recent wave of unrest.

She noted that the jailed students from Siakago Boys in Embu will serve one year in juvenile detention.