A catastrophic fire erupted at Hillside Endarasha Academy, a private boarding school situated in Nyeri County, central Kenya in East Africa, on September 5, 2024. The conflagration, which raged through the boys’ dormitory, resulted in the tragic loss of at least 21 students’ lives while injuring several others. As per officials’ reports, many students are still missing.
The fire started late in the evening on Thursday within the dormitory housing more than 150 boys. The cause of the fire is still uncertain and is currently under investigation. The area has been cordoned off by Kenyan authorities, who have initiated a comprehensive inquiry into the incident.
Spokesperson for the Kenya National Police Service, Resila Onyango, mentioned that the deceased students were “burnt beyond recognition.”
The Hillside Endarasha Academy is a coeducational private boarding school with a total of 824 students enrolled, including 156 boys and roughly 160 girls who are boarders. The remaining students attend the school as day scholars.
President of Kenya, William Ruto, expressed his condolences and described the incident as “devastating”. He has directed the relevant authorities to undertake a thorough investigation and hold accountable those responsible for the incident.
Addressing the issue of the numerous students unaccounted for, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua stressed that their absence does not necessarily indicate death or injury. He appealed to parents who might have taken their children from the school without informing the administration to report their actions. Gachagua asked these parents to update school authorities about their children’s whereabouts to ensure a correct tally of all students.
The Kenya Red Cross has been actively involved in response efforts. They have established a tracking desk at the school to assist in locating missing students and are offering psychosocial support services to impacted students, teachers, and families.
Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki reiterated the government’s commitment to thoroughly investigating the incident. He assured that authorities would work diligently to unearth the facts surrounding the fire. Kindiki promised that the government would hold any individuals or entities accountable if their actions or negligence contributed to the tragic loss of life at the school.
Recurrent school fires have been a problem in Kenya, often linked to arson and overcrowding. In 2017, a similar tragedy unfolded at a boarding school in Nairobi, leading to the deaths of at least nine students. Another incident in 2016 at a girls’ high school in Nairobi’s Kibera neighborhood also claimed nine lives.
The regularity of these incidents has heightened concerns about the safety and security measures in Kenyan schools. Between 2015 and 2016, approximately 350 schools across the country experienced fires, underlining the urgent need for improved safety protocols and infrastructure.