The court has directed the police to detain eight Litein Boys High School students for seven more days to allow adequate time for thorough investigations.
Kericho Principal Magistrate Fredrick Nyakundi ordered that the learners be detained at Litein Police Station under the supervision of the Litein Officer Commanding Station (OCS).
Judge Nyakundi also barred members of the public and the press from publishing the images and videos of the suspects pending the hearing and determination of the matter.
The students were arraigned on Tuesday, September 23, and charged with arson, burglary and malicious damage to the school property.
During the session, the court was informed that the learners were found in possession of assorted property, including items reportedly stolen from teachers' quarters.
The judge was also told that the students bore crucial information regarding the matter and that their detention would immensely help speed up the investigations.
While initial reports suggested that the students protested after the institution declined their request to watch a football match, preliminary investigations have revealed that the unrest was also linked to the refusal to sit the Apex examinations.
Apex exams are a joint examination done by Litein Boys High School and other neighbouring institutions within the county, including Moi Tea, Litein Girls, Tengecha Boys and Korongoi Girls.
However, some sources claimed that the unrest erupted as students expressed their outrage over claims that the school principal declined to facilitate a leakage for the upcoming Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).
Meanwhile, the ruling comes hours after Kericho Governor Eric Mutai revealed that the suspects were apprehended following a review of CCTV footage obtained by security officers within the school.
Speaking on Monday evening during an interview on Citizen TV, the governor said the learners were apprehended to help police officers in the investigations and the arrest of more suspects.
"I have had an engagement today with the County security team, and I am happy, and I commend them for the work and the steps they have taken. As we talk now, ten boys have been arrested," said Mutai.
