Kenya Police in Embu are holding a 17-year-old Form Three student found with a bullet at King David Kamama High School.

The boy was found with the bullet when the school management did a random search following an arson attempt at the institution.

County Police Commander Daniel Rukunga said the school’s watchman noticed the teenager running away from the dormitories.

“The watchman identified the boy and upon entering the dormitory he found a small fire that had been lit with papers under one of the beds. He was able to put it out,” said Rukunga.

He added, “The boy was found with 7.62mm round, which can be used in an AK 47 rifle.”

The student is being held at Manyatta Police Station and will be taken to court soon.

The student had just returned from a suspension after burning a dormitory with a capacity of 180 learners three weeks ago.

The officer appealed to petrol station operators to stop selling petrol in jerricans.

He also told residents to report any suspicious activities by students, adding that the police had shared their contacts with teachers and the public.

Rukunga said cooperation between the community and the police would save schools, and that they had increased patrols in places of learning.

Several public boarding schools have been set alight in the recent past, with many of the arson attacks being blamed on learners.