BY WINSTONE MUSISI
Three 2022 KCSE candidates at Cheplaskei Boys High School in Uasin Gishu County implicated in setting fire on twin dormitories and causing destruction of property worth over Sh1.8 million have been released by an Eldoret Court on Sh700, 000 bond with similar surety.
The three boys who are said to be aged above 18- years, appeared before Senior Eldoret Principal Magistrate Naomi Wairimu and denied the arson charge.
They were charged that on November 7 this year at Cheplaskei Boys High school in Kapseret Sub County, Uasin Gishu County with others not before court, willfully and unlawfully set fire to a dormitory namely Longonot A and B valued at Sh1, 822,400, the property of Cheplaskei
Secondary school.
The form four candidates pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Following their arraignment in court, the school management has directed the accused to keep off the institution until their case is heard and determined.
A probation report conducted at the school indicated that the accused are habitual indiscipline students involved in various indiscipline cases with school administration
The fire incident at the school was the second in Uasin Gishu County in a span of one week following another similar incident that occurred at Muiruti Secondary school in Yamumbi within Kapseret sub County.
Uasin Gishu County police Commander Ayub Ali Gitonga warned students from the county against engaging in such criminal activities, saying that they will be treated just like any other criminal irrespective of their age.
“I am warning students in this county to cease from setting blaze our schools, those who will even attempt to burn schools will face full rule of law regardless of their age,” cautioned Gitonga.
The county police boss further warned that detectives are investigating possible involvement of teachers in cases of arson that have hit several public schools as he warned teachers against inciting students to destroy school property.
Arson is a serious charge in the penal code and life imprisonment is the maximum penalty for the offense.