Fire at Kenyan School Claims Lives of 17 Children

At least 17 pupils have died following a fire at a dormitory in Hillside Endarasha Academy, a primary school in central Kenya, on Thursday night, September 5, according to police reports.

The cause of the fire at the school in Nyeri County is still under investigation.

Resila Onyango, a spokesperson, announced on Kenya’s Hot 96 FM that more rescuers were en route to the scene. Authorities are expected to provide further details soon.

“We have lost 17 pupils in the fire incident, and 14 others are injured,” Onyango told Reuters. “Our team is currently at the scene.”

Citizen Television reported that the fire had burned the students beyond recognition.

President William Ruto described the fire as “horrific” and “devastating,” and has called for a thorough investigation.

“I direct the relevant authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation into this tragic event. Those responsible will be held accountable,” Ruto stated on X.

A team of investigators has been dispatched to the school, police confirmed.

According to police chief Pius Murugu, more than 150 pupils were in the dormitory when the fire broke out around midnight local time. The blaze spread rapidly, exacerbated by the timber construction of many of the school’s buildings, as reported by Citizen TV.