Not Less Than 17 Students killed As Fire Guts Kenya Boarding School

The police has revealed that not less than 17 students have been killed and 13 more suffered serious burn injuries after a fire in a boarding school dormitory in central Kenya.

The identities and ages of the victims were not immediately available, but most were described as children.

The cause of the fire on Thursday night is being investigated, police spokeswoman Resila Onyango said, adding that “necessary action” would be taken.

“The bodies recovered at the scene were burnt beyond recognition,” Onyango told the AFP news agency.

During a broadcast on Kenya’s Hot 96 FM radio, Onyango said a government team is on the ground to assess the extent of the damage.

President William Ruto has described the incident as “devastating” noting that appropraite action will be taken against those responsible.

The Kenya Red Cross, which described the fire as a “tragic incident”, said at least 11 injured children were taken to Nyeri Provincial General Hospital.

In a statement on X, it said the scene was cordoned off by police.

“The Kenya Red Cross is providing psychosocial support services to the pupils, teachers and affected families and has set up a tracing desk at the school.”

The school is located about 170km (106 miles) north of the capital, Nairobi.

School fires are common in Kenyan boarding schools, where many students stay because parents believe it gives them more time to study and precludes long commutes.

In 2016, nine students were killed by a fire at a girls’ high school in the Kibera neighbourhood of Nairobi.

A year later, 10 high school students died in a school fire in Nairobi.

In 2001, 58 pupils were killed in a dormitory fire at Kyanguli Secondary School outside Nairobi.

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