A devastating fire at Hillside Endarasha Primary School in Nyeri County, central Kenya, has claimed the lives of 17 students, with fears that the death toll could rise as several others are being treated for severe burns in the hospital.
Police spokesperson Resila Onyango stated that an investigation into the cause of the fire is underway, and investigators have been dispatched to the scene.
The Kenya Red Cross is providing psychological support services to affected students, teachers, and families, while also setting up a tracing desk at the school.
Fires in boarding schools are common in Kenya.
In 2017, an arson attack at Moi Girls High School in Nairobi killed 10 students, and over 20 years ago, a fire in Machakos County claimed the lives of 67 students, marking one of the worst school fire tragedies in the country.