A catastrophic fire erupted at Hillside Endarasha Academy, a private boarding school located in Nyeri County, central Kenya, East Africa on September 5, 2024. The fire spread through the boys’ dormitory, resulting in the deaths of at least 21 students and injuries to several others. Officials reported that dozens of pupils have not yet been located.
The fire started late at night in the dormitory that accommodates over 150 boys. The cause of the fire is currently being investigated and remains unknown at this time. Authorities in Kenya have sealed off the area and have initiated a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
Resila Onyango, the spokesperson for the Kenya National Police Service, reported that the bodies of the deceased students were “burnt beyond recognition.”
Hillside Endarasha Academy is a mixed-gender private boarding school with a total of 824 enrolled students. This includes 156 boys and approximately 160 girls who reside on campus. The remaining students attend the school as day scholars.
Expressing his condolences, Kenyan President William Ruto described the incident as “devastating.” He directed relevant authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation and hold the responsible parties accountable.
Addressing the issue of the numerous students still missing, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua stressed that their absence does not automatically imply death or injury. He appealed to parents who may have collected their children from the school without informing the administration to report their actions. Gachagua asked these parents to notify school authorities about their children’s location to ensure all students are accounted for.
The Kenya Red Cross has played an active role in the response efforts. They have established a tracking desk at the school to aid in locating missing students and are providing psychosocial support services to the affected students, teachers, and families.
Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki reiterated the government’s commitment to thoroughly investigate the incident. He assured that authorities would work tirelessly to uncover the circumstances surrounding the fire. Kindiki pledged that any individuals or entities found to have contributed to the tragic loss of life at the school, either through action or inaction, would be held accountable.
School fires have unfortunately become a common occurrence in Kenya, often linked to arson and overcrowding. A comparable tragedy took place at a boarding school in Nairobi in 2017, resulting in the deaths of at least nine students. Another incident at a girls’ high school in Nairobi’s Kibera neighborhood in 2016 also claimed nine lives.
These frequent incidents have prompted concerns about the safety and security measures in Kenyan schools. From 2015 to 2016, an estimated 350 schools in the country experienced fires, underscoring the pressing need for enhanced safety protocols and infrastructure.
