17 students killed, 14 injured in boarding school fire

At least 17 students have been reportedly killed while 14 others sustained different degrees of injury after a fire broke out in a primary boarding school in central Kenya.

It was learnt that the fire incident happened on Thursday night at Hillside Endarasha Primary School in Nyeri County.

Police spokeswoman, Resila Onyango, said in a broadcast on Kenya’s Hot 96 FM radio that the authorities would provide details later, adding that more rescuers were on their way to the Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri.

“We have lost 17 pupils in the fire incident while 14 are injured,” Onyango said. “Our team is at the scene at the scene at the moment.”

The fire had burnt the students beyond recognition, Citizen Television said earlier.

In a post on his X account, President William Ruto said he had asked authorities to investigate and hold those responsible to account

He said, “Our thoughts are with the families of the children who have lost their lives in the fire tragedy at the Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County.

“This is devastating news. We pray for speedy recovery to the survivors.

“I instruct relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate this horrific incident. Those responsible will be held to account.”

“The Government under the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of the National Government is mobilising all the necessary resources to support the affected families,” he added.

Fire disasters in recent years:

Fire incidents have become a recurring nightmare in Kenya, resulting in devastating consequences for individuals, communities, and the economy.

The country has experienced a surge in fire outbreaks in recent years, with tragic events like the 2019 Nairobi parking lot fire that claimed several lives and the 2022 Gikomba market fire that left thousands of traders counting losses.

The causes of fire incidents in the country are varied and complex. Electrical faults, arson, and human negligence are among the leading causes.

Poor wiring and inadequate electrical infrastructure have been identified as major contributors to fires in residential and commercial areas.

Arson, often motivated by malice or revenge, has also been responsible for several devastating fires.

Furthermore, human negligence, such as careless handling of flammable materials or failure to adhere to safety protocols, has led to numerous fire incidents.

The consequences of fire incidents in east African nation are far-reaching and devastating. Lives are lost, properties are destroyed, and livelihoods are ruined.

Fire incidents also have a significant impact on the economy, with losses running into billions of shillings.

The Gikomba market fire, for example, resulted in estimated losses of over Ksh 1 billion.

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