Fire at Kenya boarding school dormitory kills at least 17 boys

NAIROBI:

A fire swept through a boarding school dormitory for young children in central Kenya early Friday, killing 17 boys who were asleep, according to police.

Citizen Television reported that the victims were burned beyond recognition. Their footage revealed collapsed iron roofing and charred metal storage boxes on top of bunk beds.

The fire took place at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri, a primary boarding school for young students.

"We have lost 17 pupils in the fire incident while 14 are injured," police spokesperson Resila Onyango said. "Our team is at the scene at the moment."

Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura said the boys were in grades 4 to 8, putting their ages at about 9 to 13-years-old. He said in a statement the dormitory housed 156 students.

The cause of the fire was not immediately clear.

President William Ruto said he had told authorities to investigate what he called the "horrific incident" and said those responsible would be held to account.

Authorities have sealed off the school, according to the Kenya Red Cross on X. Reuters' attempts to reach the school by phone were unsuccessful. Kenya has experienced several school fires in the past, often linked to arson.

For example, in September 2017, a fire at a Nairobi school killed nine students, with the government blaming arson.

In 2001, a dormitory fire at Kyanguli Secondary School near Nairobi resulted in 58 deaths. Another fire in 2012 at a school in Homa Bay County claimed the lives of eight students.