DNA testing is set to begin on Monday to identify the bodies of children who perished in a fire at a Kenyan boarding school, local authorities have announced. At least 21 children, with an average age of nine, are believed to have died, with one official noting that some bodies were burnt beyond recognition.
The fire erupted in a dormitory housing 156 boys at Hillside Endarasha Academy around 11:00 p.m. local time on Thursday. Firefighters were delayed due to poor road conditions, but nearby residents rushed to assist with the rescue efforts.
Officials report that 17 children remain unaccounted for, and some parents and relatives have camped at the school, demanding answers. Government officials have urged those who helped rescue students to return them to the school to aid in the search. The Red Cross has established a tracing desk and is providing support to affected families.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. The chief prosecutor has instructed investigators to determine whether the tragedy resulted from negligence or recklessness. Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga noted that the incident “evokes bad memories of other similar school fire incidents” that often revealed failures to comply with safety standards.
Government spokesman Isaac Mwaura described the tragedy as “a catastrophe beyond our imagination” and expressed deep sorrow for the nation’s loss of young and promising lives. He also urged the media to avoid drawing conclusions about the number of fatalities, as DNA testing will take several days.
On Saturday, criminal investigators and government pathologists sealed off the site for further analysis. President William Ruto has declared a three-day national mourning period, beginning on Monday.
The incident has reignited concerns about safety standards at Kenyan boarding schools, following a series of similar fires in recent years.
In 2022, a dormitory in western Kenya was destroyed by fire, leading to the arrest of several students on suspicion of arson. In 2017, an arson attack at Moi Girls High School in Nairobi claimed the lives of 10 students. More than 20 years ago, the deadliest school arson in Kenya occurred in Machakos County, southeast of Nairobi, where at least 67 students died.
A report released four years ago highlighted that many secondary schools in Kenya were poorly equipped to respond to fires and failed to meet government safety standards. The country’s auditor general revealed that many schools lacked adequate fire-handling equipment and were not built according to safety regulations.
