Tragic Boarding School Fire Claims Lives of 17 Students in Kenya
A devastating inferno swept through a dormitory at a boarding school in central Kenya, claiming the lives of 17 boys who were fast asleep while injuring 14 others, as reported by police and government representatives. Authorities have indicated that the death toll might increase following the disaster at Hillside Endarasha Primary School in Nyeri county, with survivors currently receiving care in various hospitals.
According to government spokesman Isaac Mwaura, the deceased boys were enrolled in grades 4 through 8, aged approximately between nine and thirteen years. The dormitory, which housed 156 boys, was tragically engulfed in flames. Vice President Rigathi Gachagua stated that around 70 pupils remained unaccounted for, although it is possible that some were taken home by their parents during the night.
The origin of the fire, which erupted on Thursday night, is under investigation. Police spokeswoman Resila Onyango assured that “necessary action” will follow the inquiry. “The remains retrieved at the scene were charred beyond recognition,” she informed the AFP news agency.
Hillside Endarasha Primary School accommodates a total of 824 students—402 boys and 422 girls, as indicated by the Ministry of Education via a statement on social media platform X. Among these, 156 boys and 160 girls are boarders, while the remaining students are day scholars. The institution lies approximately 170 kilometers (106 miles) north of Nairobi, the capital city.
Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki, after his visit to the school, noted, “All pertinent government agencies have been deployed … [to] uncover the truth behind the fire that led to such a tragic loss of young lives.” He further reassured that accountability will be sought for all actions that contributed to this immense heartache.
Police and forensic teams are present at the site, while health organizations and the National Disaster Operation Centre provide assistance and counseling for parents and the school community. Furthermore, the government is reassessing security protocols in schools.
President William Ruto referred to the incident as “devastating” and pledged that those culpable would face justice. “I instruct relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into this horrific event. Those accountable will be brought to justice,” he asserted on X.
The Kenya Red Cross has dispatched medical supplies for burn treatment, transporting injured children to Nyeri Provincial General Hospital. They stated that the site has been secured by police and are providing psychological support to students, teachers, and affected families, along with establishing a tracing desk at the school.
Sadly, fires in Kenyan boarding schools are all too common, with many parents opting for boarding to allow their children more study time and avoid lengthy commutes. Past incidents have included arson attacks; for instance, nine students tragically died in a 2017 fire attributed to arson at a school in Nairobi. Similarly, in 2016, nine students lost their lives in a fire at a girls’ high school in the Kibera area of Nairobi. In 2012, a blaze in Homa Bay County claimed the lives of eight students, while in 2001, a devastating dormitory fire at Kyanguli Secondary School led to the loss of 58 young lives.
Source: Al Jazeera and other news agencies
