
Another fire has broken out at a Kenyan school, just days after a deadly inferno claimed the lives of 21 children at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County. The latest incident occurred on Friday night, September 6th, at a girls' dormitory, adding to the growing concerns over safety in Kenyan boarding schools.
The initial blaze at Hillside Endarasha Academy erupted around 23:00 local time on Thursday, September 5th, 2024, in a dormitory housing 156 boys aged between 10 and 14.
Tragically, 21 children perished, with some bodies burnt beyond recognition. Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura stated, "These figures are still preliminary because the process is ongoing. It’s a DNA process that will take a number of days."
President William Ruto has declared a three-day national mourning period starting Monday, September 9th, 2024, to honor the young lives lost. "It is truly devastating for the nation to lose such a number of young and promising Kenyans. Our hearts are heavy," said government spokesman Isaac Mwaura.
The cause of the Hillside Endarasha fire remains under investigation, with initial reports suggesting an electrical fault. However, arson attacks have become an alarming trend in Kenyan boarding schools, often fueled by drug abuse, overcrowding and student protests over living conditions and academic pressures.
In response to the tragedies, the government has urged school administrators to enforce boarding guidelines that require dormitories to be spacious, with three doors and no grills on the windows for easy escape in case of fires. Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who visited the affected school, emphasized the need for stringent safety measures to prevent future incidents.
As the nation grapples with these heartbreaking losses, families of the victims are anxiously awaiting the results of DNA tests to identify their loved ones. The Red Cross has set up a tracing desk to support those affected, while criminal investigators and government pathologists continue to analyze the sites for any signs of negligence or recklessness.
The recent fires have reignited memories of past tragedies, including the 2017 arson attack at Moi Girls High School in Nairobi, which claimed 10 lives and the deadliest school fire in Kenya's history in 2001, where 67 students died in Machakos County.
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