Seventeen students of Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County have lost their lives in a tragic fire that engulfed one of the school’s dormitories.
The fire broke out on Thursday night, killing 15 students on the spot, while the 16th died on the way to hospital. Details about the 17th student are still sketchy.
According to reports, 14 other students were injured in the fire.
Officials on their way to the scene include the Deputy Director of the NPS Disaster Management Unit, DCI John Onyango, and the Senior Assistant IG and Director of Homicide.
The cause of the fire is yet to be established.
Confirming the incident, the Kenya Red Cross said: “Following the tragic fire incident at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri, the Kenya Red Cross, together with a multi-agency response team, is on the scene.
“Eleven children have been rushed to Nyeri Provincial General Hospital. The scene is currently cordoned off by the police. In addition, the Kenya Red Cross is providing psychosocial support to the students, teachers and affected families and has set up a tracing desk at the school.”
Police spokesman Resila Onyango added that the pupils had been burnt beyond recognition.
Nyeri County Commissioner Pius Murugu said the school had 824 students and the dormitory that caught fire had 152 students.
Murugu said the fire broke out in the dormitory at around 3am this morning. The fire quickly spread through the wooden structures, despite a quick response from the district government’s disaster management teams.
“Most of the structures in the school are made of wood, which of course exacerbated the fire,” he said.
DCI Director of Homicide Martin Nyuguto is leading a team of investigators to determine the cause of the fire.
The Kenya Red Cross and police have also been deployed to help trace the dead and missing.
Meanwhile, a sombre mood prevailed at the learning institution as parents, who had been informed of the tragedy, arrived at the school.
Wails of grief could be heard as some came to terms with the devasting news of those who had died.
Parents are still camping outside waiting for updates.
