A tragic fire in a school dormitory in Kenya has resulted in the death of 17 students and serious injuries to 13 others. The cause of the fire at Hillside Endarasha Primary school in Nyeri County is still under investigation, and authorities fear that the death toll may rise. The school, which serves children up to the age of 14, is located 125 miles north of Nairobi. The wooden structure of the dormitory allowed the fire to spread quickly, causing difficulties in rescue efforts due to muddy roads caused by recent rains in the area.
Nyeri County Commissioner Pius Murugu and the education ministry reported that the dormitory where the fire occurred housed more than 150 boys between the ages of 10 and 14. Anxious parents, unable to locate their children among the survivors, were left distraught as they waited for news at the school. Efforts to account for all children in the boarding section are ongoing, with the government working with school administrators to ensure every child is found. President William Ruto has called the incident devastating and has instructed relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate the tragedy.
Fires in Kenyan boarding schools are not uncommon, often due to arson influenced by drug abuse and overcrowding, according to a recent education ministry report. Some fires have been sparked by student protests over workload or living conditions. In 2017, a school fire in Nairobi resulted in the deaths of 10 high school students caused by a student. Safety guidelines recommended by the education ministry for boarding schools include spacious dormitories with multiple exits and escape routes, as well as fully serviced fire extinguishers and alarms. However, it is unclear if these guidelines were followed at Hillside school.
The deadly school fire in Kenya’s recent history occurred in 2001 when 67 students perished in a dormitory fire in Machakos county. The tragedy has prompted calls for school administrators to ensure that safety measures are being implemented and followed to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future. The education ministry’s guidelines aim to create safer environments for students in boarding schools and emphasize the importance of fire safety equipment and emergency escape routes. Investigations into the cause of the fire at Hillside school continue, with the area near the dormitory remaining cordoned off as authorities work to determine the circumstances leading to the tragic event.
