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118 high school dormitories burned in Kenya in wave of arson attacks

Students of St. Peter's-Nyamesocho in Kisii county rummage through a burnt-out dormitory for salvagable items on July 07, 2016, after it was set on fire by some of the students during a night of unrest. AFP/Getty Images

NAIROBI, Kenya – More than 100 high school dormitories in Kenya have been burned in a wave of arson attacks over the past three months.

Kwale High School along the Indian Ocean coast became the 118th secondary school whose dormitories were burned in the attacks. The Kenya Red Cross on Saturday posted pictures of the fire at Kwale High School Friday night.

READ MORE: 4 dead after extremist suspect holds police base hostage in Kenya

Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto said earlier this week that despite the fires the government schools will not be closed early. He blamed the fires on unnamed cartels fighting reforms to curb cheating in the schools’ final exams. Officials say the cheating is big business.

Kenya’s Teachers’ Union gave a different explanation, saying the students have burned the schools to protest reforms including the extension of second term.

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