Parents Endure Anxious Wait After Deadly Kenya School Fire

Parents are enduring an agonizing wait as they seek news of their children following a devastating fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy, a boarding school in Nyeri County, central Kenya. The blaze, which erupted in a dormitory around midnight, claimed the lives of 17 pupils, according to the Ministry of Education. However, with 70 children still unaccounted for, fears are growing that the death toll could rise.

Some of the missing children may have fled into the local community to escape the flames or were picked up by their parents without the school being notified. The fire, which engulfed the timber-built dormitory housing over 150 pupils, primarily affected children around nine years old, police reported.

Kenya’s Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua urged parents who have collected their children to immediately inform authorities, emphasizing the importance of accounting for every child. “We are praying and hoping for the best,” Gachagua stated.

Fourteen children have been hospitalized with injuries, while President William Ruto described the fire as “horrific” and “devastating,” promising that those responsible would be held accountable. An investigation has been launched, with forensic experts dispatched to the scene to determine the cause of the fire.

The Kenyan government has pledged to assist affected families with funeral arrangements and medical expenses. The school, which has 824 pupils, including 316 boarders, is now under scrutiny as officials work to provide answers and prevent such a tragedy from recurring.