Fire in school dorm in Kenya kills 17 students, seriously burns 13, police say

Nairobi, Kenya — A fire in a school dormitory in central Kenya killed 17 students and seriously burned 13 others, police said Friday.

There are fears that the death toll may rise, police said.

The primary school has about 800 pupils, between roughly five- and 12-years-old, Agence France reports, adding that police said the average age of the victims was around nine.

The cause of the fire at Hillside Endarasha Primary in Nyeri county was being investigated, police spokesperson Resila Onyango said. "We are investigating the cause and will take necessary action," she said.

AFP quotes her as saying the "bodies recovered at the scene were burnt beyond recognition."

AFP cites police as saying the blaze broke out around midnight and engulfed the dorm as the students slept.

The Kenyan Red Cross was assisting a multi-agency response team at the scene. In a post on X, the agency said it was "providing psychosocial support services to the pupils, teachers and affected families."

President William Ruto called the news "devastating" and said action would be taken against those responsible.

"I instruct relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate this horrific incident. Those responsible will be held to account," he wrote on the social media platform X.

His deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, urged school administrators to ensure that safety guidelines recommended by the education ministry for boarding schools are being followed.

School fires are common in Kenyan boarding schools, where many students stay because parents believe it gives them more time to study without long commutes.

Some fires have been started by students during protests over the workload or living conditions. In 2017, 10 high school students died in a school fire in the capital, Nairobi.