Death Toll Rises to 21 in Nyeri School Fire as Kenya Declares National Mourning
The death toll from the devastating fire at Hillside Endarasha Primary School in Nyeri, central Kenya, has risen to at least 21, following the discovery of more bodies over the weekend.
Nineteen bodies were recovered at the scene of the fire, which broke out on Thursday night and razed a dormitory housing 156 boys aged between 10 and 14. Two more children died from their injuries in the hospital, bringing the total confirmed deaths to 21.
“We were able to get 19 bodies. These bodies are burnt greatly, to such an extent that it would be very impossible for their parents to be able to identify them,” said government pathologist Johansen Oduor. Authorities have announced that DNA testing will begin on Monday to identify the victims, but officials warn that this process may take several days.
More than 100 children have been accounted for, but at least 17 remain missing. The government has urged those who rescued students during Thursday night’s blaze to bring them back to the school to assist with tracing efforts. The site has been sealed off for further analysis, but the cause of the fire remains unknown.
In response to the tragedy, President William Ruto has declared a three-day national mourning period starting Monday. Flags will be flown at half-mast across the country as Kenya mourns the loss of these young lives.
Adding to the grief, the Red Cross reported another fire over the weekend at a girls’ boarding school in Isiolo town, also in central Kenya. Local media reported that at least three students were injured in the blaze, which destroyed dormitories before being contained.
These incidents have raised fresh concerns over safety standards in Kenyan boarding schools, where numerous fires have occurred in recent years. The government has urged school administrators to strictly enforce boarding guidelines that require dormitories to be spacious, have at least three doors, and have no grills on the windows to ensure easy escape in case of fires.
Many students in Kenya board because parents believe it allows them more time to study without long commutes. However, the spate of fires has prompted calls for greater scrutiny and safety measures to protect children in these schools.
