Eighteen pupils lost their lives in a tragic fire that broke out last night at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Kieni, Nyeri, destroying one of the dormitories—an incident that has plunged the country into grief.
According to National Police Service Spokesperson Resila Onyango, 14 other students were injured during the blaze. “We have 16 pupils dead and 14 injured. We are investigating the cause and taking necessary action,” Onyango said.
Sixteen victims were found dead at the scene, while one pupil died on his way to the hospital. There are fears that more bodies might be discovered as the site remains under investigation and search.
Editor’s Note: Confirmed fatalities were 18 as of Friday evening.
According to Nyeri County Commissioner Pius Murugu, the dormitory that houses 152 pupils caught fire at around 3:00 am, and the fire quickly spread due to the wooden construction of the building.
“Most of the structures in this school are wooden which worsened the fire,” he said.
The county commissioner, who is leading a multi-agency team at the school, regretted that, despite the prompt efforts of disaster management teams from the county government, they were unable to save the students who tragically lost their lives.
In response to the tragedy, leaders have been sharing their condolences on social media, expressing their deep sorrow for the victims and their families.
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President William Ruto conveyed his heartfelt sympathy, stating: “Our thoughts are with the families of the children who have lost their lives in the fire tragedy at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County. This is devastating news.
“We pray for the swift recovery of the survivors and urge relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into this horrific incident. Those responsible will be held accountable. The Government, through the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of the National Government, is mobilizing all necessary resources to support the affected families.”
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua also expressed his grief, saying: “I have learned with deep sadness about the tragic deaths of the pupils from Hillside Endarasha Academy in a fire incident in Kieni Constituency, Nyeri County.
“We join the families, the school, and the entire nation in mourning these young lives lost. We pray for the speedy recovery of the survivors and for strength for the families to endure this loss. We urge schools to enforce the safety and security measures recommended by the Ministry of Education and other relevant agencies to prevent such tragedies in the future.”
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