Kenya School Fire: 17 students killed, 13 others suffer burns

Kenya School fire (Image: X)

At least 17 students have been killed and 13 others have suffered serious burn injuries after a dormitory school in Kenya caught fire, Associated Press reported on Friday, quoting police. The death toll is likely to rise, the report added.

The cause of the fire that engulfed the dormitory at Hillside Endarasha Primary in Nyeri county on Thursday night is under investigation, police spokesperson Resila Onyango said.

“We are investigating the cause and will take necessary action,” she said.

School fires are common in Kenyan boarding schools, where many students stay because parents believe it gives them more time to study without long commutes.

Some fires have been started by students during protests over the workload or living conditions. In 2017, 10 high school students died in a school fire in the capital, Nairobi.