Photo Credit:Reuters
In a heart-wrenching ceremony, the victims of a tragic fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri, Kenya, were laid to rest on Thursday. The fire, which occurred on September 6, 2024, claimed the lives of 21 boys, all aged between 9 and 13. As the children’s small white coffins were carried to their final resting place, relatives, classmates, and mourners, including Kenya’s Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, paid their respects. Gachagua lamented the loss, calling the children “innocent young souls,” as mourners reflected on the tragedy.
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined, but it is part of a disturbing pattern of school fires in Kenya. In 2018 alone, there were over 60 recorded cases of arson in public secondary schools, often attributed to student protests against harsh disciplinary measures and poor living conditions. In a similar incident in 2017, ten girls died in a fire at a Nairobi school dormitory. That fire, allegedly set by a student, led to a manslaughter charge.
Maryanne Mwangi, whose daughter died in the 2017 fire, expressed her frustration and grief at the lack of action taken to improve safety in schools. She described Kenya’s boarding schools as strict, likening them to military camps, where students, frustrated by the conditions, sometimes resort to extreme measures like arson.
The latest fire has reignited calls for the government to address safety concerns in schools and take urgent measures to prevent further tragedies. For now, the families of the victims continue to grieve the devastating loss of their children.
Maryanne Mwangi, whose daughter died in the 2017 fire, expressed her frustration and grief at the lack of action taken to improve safety in schools. She described Kenya’s boarding schools as strict, likening them to military camps, where students, frustrated by the conditions, sometimes resort to extreme measures like arson.
The latest fire has reignited calls for the government to address safety concerns in schools and take urgent measures to prevent further tragedies. For now, the families of the victims continue to grieve the devastating loss of their children.
