A devastating fire at a boarding school in central Kenya has left families in deep anguish as they anxiously await news about their missing children. The tragic incident, which took place at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County, claimed the lives of at least 17 students, with many others still unaccounted for.
The fire erupted in a dormitory housing over 150 pupils around midnight on Thursday, 6th September 2024. While the cause of the blaze remains unclear, the impact has been catastrophic. The Ministry of Education confirmed the deaths of 17 children, with authorities fearing that the death toll could rise as rescue operations continue.
Parents’ Desperate Search for Missing Children
As news of the fire spread, frantic parents gathered at the school gates, waiting for updates on their children’s fate. Many parents were left in a state of uncertainty, as some children had reportedly escaped into the local community, while others might have been picked up by their parents without the school’s knowledge.
John Githogo, an uncle of one of the missing children, expressed the unbearable agony of the waiting period, stating, “We are being told some are dead, some ran away, some were picked by their parents. But we didn’t pick our boy. We don’t know if he ran away. We don’t know if he’s among the dead or among those who fled. It’s torture.”
Other parents echoed similar sentiments, with one father, Francis Wachira, lamenting the lack of clear information. He told AFP, “They are telling us some children escaped, but we are not being told to where.”
Rising Death Toll and Ongoing Rescue Efforts
Kenya’s Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has confirmed that 70 children remain missing, though authorities suspect that some of these children could be in the surrounding community or with family members. Fourteen students were transported to local hospitals for treatment due to injuries sustained during the fire.
President William Ruto described the incident as “horrific” and “devastating,” pledging that those responsible would be held accountable. “Those responsible will be held to account,” he wrote on social media.
Firefighters, alongside local residents, worked tirelessly to extinguish the flames, while police and forensic teams began their investigation. According to police spokesperson Resila Onyango, many of the bodies recovered were “burnt beyond recognition.”
Samson Mwangi Mwema, a local official involved in the rescue efforts, highlighted the difficult conditions rescuers faced. “We found the dormitory had caught fire. We tried to rescue – we found some children under the bed and we were able to rescue them,” he said.
Trauma and Counseling for Survivors
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) established a temporary trauma center at the school to provide counseling services for 59 children affected by the disaster. These services are intended to help students cope with the emotional aftermath of the fire, as many witnessed the horrific scenes unfold.
The school, located near Nyeri town, approximately 150 kilometers (93 miles) from Nairobi, is a private institution with a total of 824 pupils. Of these, 316 were boarders. The average age of the victims was around nine years old, according to local authorities.
Government Response and Investigation
Deputy President Gachagua reassured families that the government would cover hospital bills and assist with burial arrangements for the victims. He further pledged that a full report on the fire’s cause would be made public once investigations are complete.
President Ruto has ordered a thorough inquiry into the tragedy, with investigators already on the scene gathering evidence to determine what led to the deadly fire. Given the history of school fires in Kenya, concerns are being raised once again over the safety standards in boarding schools, which have been the site of numerous arson attacks in the past.
A Tragic History of School Fires in Kenya
Kenya has a troubling history of fatal school fires, many of which have been linked to arson. In 2017, a fire at Moi Girls High School in Nairobi claimed the lives of 10 students. The most devastating school fire in the country occurred over two decades ago in Machakos County, where at least 67 students perished in an arson attack.
In 2021 and 2022, a spike in arson attacks on boarding schools led to heightened concerns about student safety and disciplinary issues. Several students were arrested in connection with these incidents, but many schools continue to struggle with maintaining adequate safety measures.
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Sources: BBC