Devastating School Fire in Kenya Claims 21 Lives

A devastating fire at a school in Nyeri, central Kenya, has claimed the lives of at least 21 children. The tragic incident occurred at Hillside Endarasha Primary School, where a dormitory housing 156 boys aged between 10 and 14 was completely destroyed. Nineteen bodies were recovered at the scene, while two more children died in hospital.

Government pathologist Johansen Oduor described the bodies as “burnt greatly, to a great extent, to such an extent that it would be very impossible for their parents to be able to identify them.” DNA testing is set to begin on Monday to identify the children, but officials warn that it will take several days to complete.

The fire is believed to have started on Thursday night, and it is not yet clear what caused it. The government has urged anyone who rescued students from the blaze to bring them back to the school to help with tracing the remaining 17 children who are still missing.

The site of the fire has been sealed off for analysis, and President William Ruto has declared a three-day national mourning period starting on Monday. This tragic incident is not the first of its kind in Kenya, with numerous fires reported at boarding schools in recent years.

The government has urged school administrators to enforce boarding guidelines that require dormitories to be spacious, with three doors and no grills on windows for easy escape in case of fires. Many students board at schools because parents believe it gives them more time to study without lengthy commutes.

In related news, the Red Cross reported another fire at a girls’ boarding school in Isiolo town in central Kenya, which destroyed dormitories and injured at least three students. As the country mourns the loss of these young lives, it is clear that there is an urgent need for improved safety standards at Kenyan boarding schools.