A form four boy and two form two girls from Kanja Mixed Boarding Secondary School in Embu East district will be charged with attempting to burn their school.

Embu Deputy Police boss Paul Kuria said the two girls were spotted on Monday evening taking half a litre of petrol over the school fence from a student who had been suspended over indiscipline.

The boy escaped but the girls revealed that the form four accused had instructed them to take the petrol to burn their school. The three were held at the Runyejes police station.

However they could not plead to the charges as the prosecution said the form four boy was sitting for his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education.

Resident magistrate Paul Nandi directed they be remanded at the police station before their appearance at the Embu's juvenile court. The form four boy has been sitting his exam at the police station as the girls remained in custody.

Students have been sending text messages encouraging each other to oppose the November 23 closing date following the teacher's strike.