17 Students Dead, 13 Injured in Dormitory Fire at Kenyan School

– A devastating fire at a school dormitory in Kenya has claimed the lives of 17 students, with 13 others suffering serious burns. Police are investigating the cause of the fire, which occurred Thursday night at Hillside Endarasha Primary in Nyeri County, The Associated Press reports.

Police spokesperson Resila Onyango confirmed the tragic incident, stating that the death toll may rise as investigations continue.

The fire, which broke out in the school dormitory, is a reminder of the recurring problem of school fires in Kenya. Many students live in boarding schools, often due to their parents’ belief that it provides a more conducive learning environment with less travel time.

However, some fires have been intentionally started by students during protests against heavy workloads or poor living conditions. In 2017, a school fire in Nairobi tragically claimed the lives of 10 high school students.