Authorities in Kenya will begin DNA testing on Monday to identify the bodies of children who perished in a tragic fire at the Hillside Endarasha Academy boarding school.
At least 21 children, with an average age of nine, are believed to have died, many of them burned beyond recognition, according to local officials.
The fire erupted in a dormitory housing 156 boys at around 11 p.m. on Thursday night. Despite efforts by nearby residents who rushed to assist, firefighters were delayed by poor road conditions, hindering rescue efforts.
Seventeen children remain missing, prompting some parents and relatives to camp at the school, demanding answers. Officials have urged anyone who helped rescue students to return them to the school to assist in identifying the unaccounted-for children
The Red Cross has established a tracing desk and is offering support to the affected families. Meanwhile, investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire, with suspicions of potential negligence or recklessness. Director of Public Prosecutions, Renson Ingonga, stressed the need for a thorough investigation, noting that this incident stirs painful memories of past school fires linked to safety violations.
Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura described the tragedy as “a catastrophe beyond our imagination” and urged the media to refrain from speculating about the death toll until DNA results are confirmed. On Saturday, criminal investigators and pathologists sealed off the site for analysis, as President William Ruto declared a three-day national mourning period, starting Monday.
The fire is the latest in a series of similar tragedies in Kenyan boarding schools, raising national concerns about safety standards. Previous incidents, including the deadly 2017 arson attack at Moi Girls High School in Nairobi, have led to repeated calls for tighter enforcement of fire safety regulations. A 2020 audit report warned that many schools in Kenya remain ill-prepared for fire emergencies and fail to meet government safety standards.
