Maranda High School Closed Indefinitely — What We Know So Far

Maranda High School has been closed indefinitely following a fresh wave of student unrest linked to a dormitory arson attack that occurred on Sunday evening of May 24.

The closure comes even as the Bondo Law Courts granted police permission to detain 12 Form Three students suspected to have been involved in the dormitory fire on Sunday.

School administrators confirmed that the fire damaged part of a dormitory but was contained before it could spread further across the institution.

No fatalities were reported during the incident, although property of unknown value was destroyed in the blaze.

Maranda Sends Students Home Amid Rising Tensions

The drastic decision to close the school followed another wave of defiance from students less than 24 hours after the arson attack.

According to Maranda High School Principal Dr Edwin Namachanja, the decision to send Form Four candidates home was reached after consultations with the Director of Education’s office.

“The difficult decision to release the candidates was made in consultation with the Director of Education’s office to protect lives and secure school property,” Edwin Namachanja.

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Unrest reportedly began during lunchtime when Form Four students broke dining hall plates and threw away their food in protest.

The students later refused to attend afternoon classes and instead circulated handwritten notes demanding to be sent home.

Latest unrest came less than 24 hours after the suspected arson attack on the Owino “B” dormitory, which houses Form Four students.

The fire destroyed personal property of unknown value before firefighters and school officials managed to contain it.

Police Investigations and Arrests

Police said 12 Form Three students were arrested while allegedly attempting to flee after the incident.

The suspects spent the night at Bondo Police Station as detectives continued investigations into the cause and planning of the attack.

Robert Aboki said investigators recovered CCTV footage from two petrol stations within Bondo town.

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According to police, the footage allegedly shows six of the detained students purchasing fuel believed to have been used during the attack.

Police further alleged that the plan to torch the dormitory was organized during a sports event on Saturday.

Investigators claimed the students raised Ksh 2,500 and sneaked out of the school compound to purchase eight litres of petrol before smuggling it back through a fence.

Authorities said the fuel was allegedly hidden in a dustbin before the suspects executed the plan shortly after tea break on Sunday evening.

Detectives further claimed that the group lined corridors with mattresses and blankets, poured petrol on them and set them on fire before fleeing.

Officers later recovered discarded masks and clothing in toilets where police believe the suspects hid after the attack.

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