Eight students have been arrested in connection with the fire that gutted a dorm at Kisii High School on Tuesday night.

The eight suspects, police said on Wednesday, were captured by CCTV cameras leaving the dorm moments before it started burning.

The school installed the cameras a week ago.

Speaking to the Nation, county police commander Hassan Abdi said they were investigating the cause of the fire.

The suspects are currently being held at Kisii Central Police Station and could be arraigned in court either on Wednesday or Thursday morning.

During the Tuesday night incident, parents and the public flocked the national school after getting news that it was burning.

School Board of Management Chairman Patrick Nyagusia said the flames consumed property of unknown value.

“The dormitory, commonly referred to us Wire House, was completely destroyed,” he said.

“Nothing was salvaged. But we are grateful to the County Disaster Team for their quick response in fighting the fire.”

Kisii Administration Executive Walter Okibo called for calm, saying investigations would reveal the cause of the fire.

Bonchari MP Oroo Oyioka, who is also a member of National Assembly’s committee on Education, appealed for assistance.

"We are calling upon well-wishers to come in and help 198 students who lost their properties," he said.

He said he was disappointed by the incident at Kisii High School and Chalbi Secondary School in Marsabit, where students beat up their teachers.

Mr Oyioko said he would communicate the information he would gather from the scene of the fire to the committee, which is expected to sit this week.

On Wednesday, the school’s board held a crisis meeting to try and establish the cause of the flames.