Endarasha, September 6, 2024 (TDI): At least 17 students have died following a devastating fire that swept through their school dormitory overnight, police reported on Friday.
The fire broke out at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County around midnight, consuming the dormitory where the children were asleep. The primary school serves approximately 800 students aged between five and twelve.
National police spokesperson Resila Onyango confirmed the fatalities and reported that many of the deceased were unrecognizable due to the severity of the fire. She noted that the average age of the victims was around nine years old.
In addition to the fatalities, several students were injured, with 16 suffering serious injuries and taken to a nearby hospital. Onyango expressed concern that more bodies might be discovered as the investigation continues.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, but authorities have launched a thorough investigation. Kenyan President William Ruto has expressed his condolences to the families affected by the tragedy, describing the news as devastating.
He has instructed officials to conduct a comprehensive investigation and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
The school is located about 170 kilometers from Nairobi, the capital. The Kenyan Red Cross is assisting with the response, providing psychosocial support to students, teachers, and affected families.
Kenya and East Africa have experienced several school fire incidents in recent years. Notably, in 2016, nine pupils perished in a fire at a girls’ high school in Kibera, Nairobi.
In 2001, a fire at Kyanguli Mixed Secondary School in Machakos district resulted in the deaths of 67 students, leading to charges of murder against two students and convictions for negligence against the school’s headmaster and deputy. In 1994, a fire at Shauritanga Secondary School for Girls in Tanzania claimed 40 lives and injured 47 others.
