A catastrophic fire took place on September 5, 2024, at the Hillside Endarasha Academy, a private boarding school situated in Nyeri County, central Kenya, East Africa. The fire, which erupted in the boys’ dormitory, has resulted in at least 21 student fatalities and dozens of injuries, with several students still missing.
The fire started late on Thursday night in a dormitory, which was home to over 150 boys. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined and is currently under investigation. The area has been sealed off by Kenyan authorities who have initiated a comprehensive inquiry into the event.
Resila Onyango, the spokesperson for the Kenya National Police Service, reported that the deceased students were “burnt beyond recognition.”
The Hillside Endarasha Academy is a mixed-gender private boarding school with a total of 824 students enrolled. This includes 156 boys and roughly 160 girls who are boarders. The rest of the students attend the school as day scholars.
William Ruto, the President of Kenya, described the incident as “devastating” and extended his condolences. He ordered related authorities to conduct a rigorous investigation and to hold accountable those found responsible.
Rigathi Gachagua, the Deputy President, addressed the matter of the numerous missing students, stressing that their unaccounted status does not necessarily mean they are injured or dead. He appealed to parents who might have picked up their children from the school without informing the administration to come forward. Gachagua asked these parents to notify school authorities about their children’s status to ensure an accurate headcount of all students.
The Kenya Red Cross has actively participated in the response efforts. They have established a tracking desk at the school to assist in finding the missing students and are offering psychosocial support services to the affected students, teachers, and families.
Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki reiterated the government’s commitment to a thorough investigation of the incident. He assured that authorities would work tirelessly to determine the facts leading to the fire. Kindiki vowed that the government would hold any persons or organizations accountable if their actions or inactions contributed to the tragic loss of life at the school.
School fires in Kenya, often linked to arson and overcrowding, have become a repeating issue. In 2017, a similar tragedy occurred at a boarding school in Nairobi, leading to the deaths of at least nine students. Another fire in 2016 at a girls’ high school in Nairobi’s Kibera neighborhood also resulted in nine fatalities.
The regularity of these incidents has raised concerns about the safety and security measures in Kenyan schools. Between 2015 and 2016, roughly 350 schools in the country encountered fires, underlining the pressing need for enhanced safety protocols and infrastructure.
