17 students die in Kenya school dormitory fire

New Delhi, Sep 6: In central Kenya, 17 students lost their lives after a fire broke out in a boys’ dormitory at a school in Nyeri County last night. The fire at Hillside Endarasha Primary School engulfed the dormitory where more than 150 students were sleeping, local and international media reported. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

Residents in Nyeri County rushed to assist as firefighters struggled to reach the scene due to muddy roads. The delay hampered rescue efforts, and the full extent of the damage is still being assessed.

Kenyan President William Ruto described the news as “horrific” and “devastating.” The uncle of one of the missing students, speaking to journalists, expressed the anguish of waiting for news. “We’ve not had any news; nobody has talked to us. They’ve just recorded our names with the Red Cross,” he said. “We are being told some are dead, some ran away, some were picked up by their parents.”

Kenya’s Interior Minister, Kithure Kindiki, visited the scene and later released a statement on social media platform X, “Kenya woke up to the devastating news of the tragic loss and severe injury to the lovely children of Kieni Hillside Academy in Nyeri County as a result of a terrible pre-dawn fire which razed down their dormitory as the pupils slept,” Kindiki wrote.

He reassured the public that government agencies are being deployed to support the affected families and pledged full accountability. “The government assures full accountability for all whose action or inaction contributed to this tremendous loss,” Kindiki stated.

This incident has highlighted concerns over schools’ preparedness for emergencies, as many lack proper exit plans and student training on how to respond to such situations. The tragedy highlights the urgent need for improved safety measures in educational institutions across the country.