ENDARASHA, Kenya (AFP) — A catastrophic fire that tore through a primary school dormitory in Nyeri county, central Kenya, has tragically claimed the lives of 21 children. The government confirmed the death toll rose on Saturday, as efforts to piece together the sequence of events continue.
The inferno engulfed the dormitory at Hillside Endarasha Academy around midnight on Thursday. At the time, more than 150 boys aged between nine and 13 were fast asleep, unaware of the looming disaster. Government spokesman Isaac Mwaura revealed that 19 bodies were discovered at the site, while two additional children succumbed to injuries in the hospital.
Out of the 156 boys present in the dormitory when the fire broke out, 139 have since been accounted for either at home or in hospital. “It is a catastrophe beyond our imagination,” stated Mwaura at a press briefing held at the wrecked site. “It is truly devastating for the nation to lose such a number of young and promising Kenyans. Our hearts are heavy.”
The exact cause of the fire remains unknown. However, police homicide investigators and forensic experts are diligently working at the scene to establish the origins of the blaze. Media access to the school has been restricted, with authorities striving to maintain the integrity of the investigation.
The fire left a horrifying sight: charred bodies of victims burnt beyond recognition, discovered in what is now the blackened shell of the dormitory, its corrugated iron roof completely collapsed. Chief government pathologist Johansen Oduor announced that postmortems are scheduled to begin on Tuesday, hoping to provide some closure to the grieving families.
Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga instructed police to conduct a thorough investigation, focusing on whether the tragedy was a result of negligence or recklessness on the part of responsibility holders. “Any person found culpable towards the fire tragedy shall be expediently taken through the due process of a criminal trial,” stated Ingonga’s office.
The horrific blaze has reignited concerns regarding safety standards in Kenyan schools, which have witnessed a series of similar incidents over the years. Kenya’s National Gender and Equality Commission initial reports suggested the dormitory was overcrowded, blatantly violating safety norms.
In response to the tragedy, President William Ruto has declared three days of national mourning starting Monday. Describing the incident as an “unfathomable tragedy,” Ruto urged the nation to come together in grief and solidarity. Pope Francis also expressed his deep sorrow over the loss of young lives, conveying his spiritual closeness to all affected by the calamity.
Outside the school gates, families awaited anxiously for news of their children. Emotional scenes unfolded, with one grief-stricken mother lamenting, “We don’t want the food donations. We want our children.” The Kenya Red Cross has initiated psychological counselling for the traumatised children and their relatives, setting up white tents in nearby fields to offer solace.
Among the parents, Muchai Kihara, 56, found slight relief knowing his 12-year-old son, Stephen Gachingi, survived the ordeal. “I cannot begin to imagine what he went through. I am happy he is alive but he had some injuries at the back of his head and the smoke had affected his eyes,” Kihara said. “I just want him to be counselled now to see if his life will return to normal.”
The tragic incident adds to a grim history of school fires in Kenya and neighboring East African countries. A string of recent disasters includes a 2016 fire that claimed nine lives in a girls’ high school in Nairobi’s Kibera slum, and a 2001 arson attack south of Nairobi killing 67 pupils.
As the nation mourns, focus intensifies on improving the safety infrastructure in schools to prevent future tragedies and secure the lives of its young citizens.
