Kericho: Eight Litein high school students implicated in taking part in an arson attack during a recent riot at the institution are set to take plea before a Kericho court Friday.

According to Kenya News Agency, their reappearance in court, along with four other people, comes after the prosecution earlier in the week sought more time to conclude investigations during their initial arraignment in court. The eight minors, along with the quartet, face charges ranging from arson, burglary, and property damage. They have since been held at the Kericho Children Remand Home, pending submission of a police report over the incident, which culminated in the closure of the school.

The students, alongside the other accused persons, were initially arraigned in court Wednesday before the Kericho Principal Magistrate Fredrick Nyakundi, who later granted the prosecution a miscellaneous application for extra time to conclude investigations. The court also ruled that further orders will be issued during their reappearance Friday.

The other four accused adults, including Enock Kirui, Gilbert Kosgei, Michael Rotich, and Ronald Rotich, were remanded at Litein police station pending their plea-taking on the same date on charges preferred by the prosecution when tabling their final report. Meanwhile, the school remains closed following the Sunday night riots in which the rowdy students vandalized school property, including classrooms.