A tragic fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County, central Kenya, has claimed the lives of 17 students and left at least 14 others seriously injured. The blaze, which broke out around midnight on September 5-6, 2024, engulfed a dormitory housing 156 students aged between 9 and 13.Police spokesperson Resila Onyango stated, ‘The bodies found at the scene are so carbonized that they are unrecognizable,’ adding that the death toll may rise as investigations continue. The Kenya Red Cross has cordoned off the school and is providing psychosocial support to affected families and pupils.President William Ruto expressed his condolences and ordered a thorough investigation into the ‘horrific incident,’ vowing that ‘those responsible will be held to account’. Initial reports suggest the dormitory may have been overcrowded, potentially violating safety standards.This tragedy is part of a troubling pattern of school fires in Kenya. In 2017, nine students died in a fire at a school in Nairobi, and in 2001, 58 students perished in a fire at Kyanguli Secondary School. These incidents have raised serious concerns about fire safety in Kenyan schools.The Ministry of Education, in partnership with the Ministries of Interior and National Administration, and Health, is managing the situation and providing medical attention to the injured students. A team from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), supported by the Government Chemist, is assisting in the forensic analysis.As the nation mourns, former President Uhuru Kenyatta described the loss as ‘indescribable,’ saying, ‘The loss of young lives, full of potential and hope for the future, is a pain that cannot be fully expressed’. The incident has reignited discussions on improving emergency preparedness and infrastructure in learning institutions across Kenya.
Key points
- A fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Kenya killed 17 students and injured at least 14 others.
- The dormitory housed 156 students aged 9-13, raising concerns about overcrowding and safety violations.
- President William Ruto has ordered a thorough investigation into the incident.
- The tragedy has reignited discussions on improving school safety measures in Kenya.
Contradictions👾There are slight discrepancies in the reported number of injured students, with some sources citing 14 and others mentioning 13.
