Kenya Mourns After Deadly School Fire Kills 21 Students
Kenya is in a state of national mourning following a devastating fire at a boarding school in central Kenya, which has claimed the lives of at least 21 students. The tragedy has left the school community and the nation in shock, with many still searching for answers.
The fire occurred at Hillside Endarasha Academy, where 156 students were housed in a dormitory. While the majority of students escaped, 17 remain unaccounted for, and many are still trying to come to terms with the loss of their loved ones. Distraught parents and relatives have gathered at the Naromoru hospital to provide DNA samples, hoping to get closure and identify the remains of their children.
Chief government pathologist Johansen Oduor explained that DNA testing will play a crucial role in reuniting families with their children. "We’ll be undergoing a process of DNA collection from them at the hospital by the government chemist, then on Tuesday, we’ll start the autopsy," he said. "During the autopsy, we’ll be documenting the cause of death and also taking samples for DNA which will later be reconciled so that at the end of the day, we’ll be able to unite the parents to their children."
The Red Cross and ministry of health have been offering support to those affected, providing emergency disaster preparedness and response teams, counselors, and forensic experts. However, officials have yet to determine the cause of the fire, with investigations ongoing.
The tragedy has raised concerns about safety standards in Kenyan boarding schools. A report released in 2020 by the country’s auditor general found that many schools lack proper equipment to handle fires and many dormitories are not constructed in accordance with government regulations. Education cabinet secretary Julius Ogamba has called for a review of the rules, saying it is time to make them laws with penalties for those who violate them.
Kenya’s deadliest school fire occurred in 2001, when at least 67 students died in a dormitory inferno at Kyanguli high school. As the country marks three days of mourning for another school fire, experts say the government needs to do more to ensure the safety of learners.
