In a heartbreaking incident, 17 students from Hillside Endarasha Academy in Kieni, Nyeri, tragically lost their lives following a fire that broke out last night.
As of 7:30 a.m., authorities had confirmed 16 deaths, with another student succumbing to injuries while being rushed to the hospital.
The National Police Service Spokesperson, Resila Onyango, confirmed the disaster, stating that 14 other students sustained injuries. “We have 17 pupils dead and 14 injured. We are investigating the cause and will take necessary action,” she said.
The pupils are reported to have been burned beyond recognition in the blaze, which engulfed one of the dormitories where the students were sleeping.
Fifteen bodies were recovered at the scene, and fears remain that more victims may be discovered as investigators continue to process the site.
Key officials, including Deputy Director of DCI John Onyango, the Senior Assistant IG, the Director of the Homicide Unit, and the NPS Disaster Management Unit, are en route to the school to oversee the investigation. The scene has been secured while authorities await the homicide team’s arrival.
Emergency response teams were immediately deployed to the school to manage the situation, and parents and guardians of the students have been notified of the tragedy.
