Student detained over deadly Moi Girls fire

A student suspected to have started the fire at Moi Girls High School in Nairobi has been detained for seven days to allow police conclude investigations.

Children’s Court Magistrate Teresia Nyangena said that the student is a minor and the police have to expeditiously investigate the fire incident.

“I have considered the submissions by the lawyers…the best I can do is allow for seven days upon which the application for bail can be reviewed,” said Justice Nyangene.

Earlier the prosecution lawyer Alloys Kemo applied to have the child remanded for a period of 10 days.

“She’s been investigated for several offences among them assault, arson and murder,” submitted Kemo.

The court was told that the Director of Public Prosecution will make a final determination on which charges the minor should face once the investigations are done.

In an affidavit filed in court, the student was arrested on Tuesday, September 5, at Thome Estate within Kasarani Sub County.

Further, the prosecution said that on the night September 1st an inferno engulfed Kabarnet dormitory at Moi Girls School,Nairobi leading to nine deaths,  injuries and massive destruction of property.

The court was told that the identity of the victims who lost their lives during the inferno have not yet been ascertained and DNA testing is currently ongoing.

DPP application for 10-detention was, however, objected to by the defense.

Through lawyer Stanley Kang’ahi, the court was told that the students’ parents together with the suspect have been co-operating with the police.

Kang’ahi argued that there were no compelling reasons given by the prosecution to warrant the student’s detention for a period of 10 days.

“We are asking that the court grant her bail pending investigations,” Kang’ahi noted.

The matter will be mentioned on September 13when the bail application will be argued.