17 students burn to death. News. 17 students have tragically died, and several others are injured after a fire broke out at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County.
Reports indicate that the fire occurred at night, engulfing a dormitory and leaving 17 students burned beyond recognition. The injured students were taken to Nyeri Provincial General Hospital for treatment.
National Police Service Spokesperson Resila Onyango confirmed the incident but said the cause of the fire was still under investigation.
“We are looking into the cause and will take appropriate action,” Resila told reporters.
Nyeri County Police Commander Benjamin Rotich stated that the fire started around midnight when most of the students were asleep. Despite the efforts of first responders, the fire spread too quickly to be contained.
Out of the 17 students, 15 were pronounced dead at the scene, and one passed away while being rushed to the hospital. The school’s management has informed the parents about the situation, and the area is currently secured by the police.
On Friday morning, Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Deputy Director John Onyango and Director of Homicide Martin Nyoguto were sent to the school to begin investigations. They are expected to determine the cause of the fire and whether negligence played a role in the tragedy.
The Kenya Red Cross is providing support to the students, teachers, and affected families, and has set up a tracing desk at the school. A mental health and psychological support team has also been sent from Nairobi to assist the local team.