00:00Nine girls suspected of planning and executing a fire that killed 16 fellow students at a Kenyan boarding school
00:07are to be held in custody for up to 21 days.
00:11A court in Naivasha on Wednesday ruled they'll be remanded at a children's home
00:15to allow detectives to complete their investigations and determine whether to bring charges.
00:21The case has gripped the nation.
00:23So we expect that we will be coming back to court on the 24th of June for purposes of further
00:31direction by the court.
00:32So during that time it is expected by the court and by the nation and also by us as the
00:39victims
00:40that the investigations will have concluded, we will have gotten the answers that we very much want to hear
00:48and we will have found a way forward in respect to finding justice for the victims.
00:55The girls, all in their teens, were arrested following questioning of students and a review of CCTV footage.
01:02It was revealed that the fire was started by pupils lighting a mattress at the exit to the dormitory using
01:07a matchstick and paraffine.
01:09We had submitted in court and our submission was that ideally there were no compelling reasons
01:16as to why the children were supposed to be detained.
01:21Nonetheless, the court has taken a different view.
01:24We have already briefed our clients and they are well informed.
01:30No motive for the arson attack has been revealed so far.
01:33The results of DNA tests to determine the identities of some of the bodies that were charred beyond recognition
01:40were due to be announced on Wednesday.
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