A devastating fire at a school in Kenya has left 17 students dead and 13 others injured, prompting investigations into the cause of the tragedy and raising concerns about school safety.
On Friday, police reported that 17 students were killed and 13 others suffered serious burns in a fire at a Kenyan school dormitory.
Police have expressed concerns about the possibility of an increase in the death toll.
Resila Onyango, a police spokesperson, stated that investigations were underway to determine the cause of Thursday night’s fire at Hillside Endarasha Primary located in Nyeri county. It is worth noting that this educational facility serves children aged 14 and below.
More than 150 boys were housed in the dormitory that caught fire, as reported by Nyeri County Commissioner Pius Murugu and the education ministry. Due to the prevalent use of wood planks in building construction, the spread of fire was rapid.
Located in the central highlands, 200 kilometers (125 miles) north of Nairobi, the school houses a total of 824 students and wooden structures are frequently seen in its vicinity.
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The school was filled with sorrow as anxious parents, who couldn’t locate their children among the survivors, waited in distress.
The news was deemed “devastating” by President William Ruto.
On social media platform X, he stated that he urges the relevant authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation into this ghastly occurrence and ensure accountability for those at fault.
The deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, advised school administrators to abide by the safety guidelines put forth by the education ministry for boarding schools.
A recent report from the education ministry indicates that Kenyan boarding schools frequently experience fires, often caused by drug abuse and overcrowding leading to arson. Parents commonly opt for their children to reside at school in order for them to maximize study time without lengthy commutes.
During protests over workload or living conditions, some students have initiated fires. Consequently, in 2017, a student set fire to a school in Nairobi that resulted in the tragic death of ten high schoolers.
In 2001, a dormitory fire in Machakos County claimed the lives of 67 students, making it the most fatal school fire.
