The death toll from a catastrophic fire at Hillside Endarasha Primary School in Nyeri, central Kenya, has climbed to at least 21 after more bodies were discovered over the weekend.
Nineteen bodies were recovered at the scene of the fire, which erupted in a dormitory housing 156 boys aged between 10 and 14. Two additional children later succumbed to their injuries while receiving treatment in hospital. The blaze broke out on Thursday night, leaving more than 100 students accounted for, but at least 17 remain missing.
“We were able to retrieve 19 bodies. These bodies are severely burnt to such an extent that their parents would not be able to identify them,” said government pathologist Johansen Oduor.
Efforts to identify the victims are set to begin on Monday, with DNA testing planned to assist in the process. However, officials have warned that the identification process could take several days.
Authorities have sealed off the site of the fire for further investigation, though the cause remains unknown. The government has urged anyone who rescued students during the blaze to bring them back to the school to aid in tracing those still missing.
President William Ruto has declared a three-day national mourning period, beginning on Monday, in the wake of the tragedy.
In a concerning development, the Red Cross has reported another fire at a girls’ boarding school in Isiolo town, also in central Kenya. Local media outlets have confirmed that at least three students were injured in the fire, which destroyed dormitories before being brought under control.
As the nation mourns, questions over the safety of school dormitories and fire preparedness are expected to intensify. The devastating incident has left communities in shock, with parents anxiously awaiting news of their children.
There have been numerous fires at Kenyan boarding schools in recent years, prompting concerns about safety standards.
The government has urged school administrators to enforce boarding guidelines that require dormitories to be spacious, with three doors and no grills on the windows for easy escape in case of fires.
Many students board because parents believe it gives them more time to study without long commutes.
