Nairobi, Kenya | By Michael Wandati | School fires have become a concerning trend in Kenya, with numerous cases over the past few decades, particularly in boarding schools.
The most recent incidents, such as the tragic fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County, where at least 21 pupils have died, and 27 injured, have raised alarm across the country.
Authorities have confirmed that over a dozen children, aged 12 and under, from Hillside Endarasha Primary School were hospitalized with severe burns following a devastating fire that broke out on Thursday 5, September 2024. Concerns are mounting that the death toll could increase as investigations continue.
The exact cause of the fire remains unknown at this stage, but Kenya has been grappling with a troubling pattern of arson attacks in boarding schools. In the past two decades, more than 100 students have lost their lives in fire-related incidents in schools, raising alarm over safety protocols and student unrest.
What happened at the Hillside Endarasha Primary School?
Here’s an overview of what we currently know about the Hillside Endarasha fire and the broader issues contributing to Kenya’s ongoing school fire crisis.
A fire broke out on Thursday night at Hillside Endarasha Primary School, a co-educational institution with about 800 students aged between five and 12. At the time of the incident, around 150 boys were believed to have been inside the dormitory when the blaze erupted.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire and have not ruled out the possibility of arson. Investigative teams have been deployed to the scene, and the school has been cordoned off to facilitate the investigation.
As investigations continue into the cause of the fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County, new information suggests that the tragedy, which claimed the lives of 21 pupils, may have been sparked by an electrical fault.
According to an interview conducted by Citizen TV with a parent of one of the surviving students, the fire is believed to have started near the main entrance of the dormitory where pupils from Grades 5 to 8 were housed.
The parent, who wished to remain anonymous, mentioned seeing sparks from a bulb near the dormitory’s entrance, which may have triggered the devastating fire.
Investigators are still examining the site to determine the exact cause, but the possibility of an electrical malfunction is now under consideration.
“He told us that there was a boy sleeping near the door, and when the bulb exploded, it ignited the mattress. The boy ran to call the matron, and that’s when the fire spread,” said the parent.
According to reports, the matron and a security guard at the scene quickly notified the teachers residing within the school compound, who then assisted in evacuating the pupils as the fire rapidly engulfed the dormitory.
The fire reportedly began at the first bed near the main entrance, occupied by a Grade 5 student who fortunately survived the incident.
The dormitory area contained 24 double-decker beds, with six on each side. At the time of the fire, 48 pupils were sleeping in this section. The Grade 8 students, who slept at the far end of the dormitory, could only be accessed through a narrow passage from the area with the double-decker beds.
The dormitory was equipped with three doors: the main entrance, another door near it, and a third door behind the Grade 8 sleeping area. It was reported that the lights remained on throughout the night. However, the close proximity of the wooden beds and the dormitory’s layout, which included cardboard partitions between sleeping areas, contributed to the fire’s rapid spread.
Are school fires a frequent occurrence in Kenya?
Yes, school fires have become increasingly common in Kenya, especially in boarding schools. These incidents have raised significant concerns due to the recurring nature of the fires and the devastating impact on students, teachers, and families.
Over the past two decades, multiple fire-related tragedies have occurred, with over 100 students losing their lives. In many cases, the fires have been linked to student unrest, arson, poor infrastructure, and inadequate fire safety measures within schools.
The frequency of these fires has prompted widespread debate over safety standards, the psychological welfare of students, and the need for stricter regulations to prevent such incidents. Despite efforts to address these issues, school fires continue to be a major challenge, with recent events underscoring the need for urgent action.
What causes school fires in Kenya?
One of the major drivers behind the fires is student dissatisfaction. Many reports suggest that students, frustrated by harsh school rules, excessive workloads, or poor living conditions, resort to arson as a form of protest.
Additionally, pressure related to academic performance and high expectations from schools and families can trigger unrest, particularly among students in their final year. In some cases, the lack of proper mental health support exacerbates tensions, leading to destructive behavior.
Moreover, inadequate fire safety measures in many schools have worsened the situation. Dormitories often lack sufficient emergency exits or fire extinguishers, leading to devastating consequences when fires break out. Government authorities have been criticized for not enforcing strict fire safety regulations, though recent incidents have spurred calls for reforms in school safety policies.
The government has pledged to conduct thorough investigations and hold perpetrators accountable, but the recurrence of such tragedies underscores the need for a multi-faceted approach. Addressing the root causes of student unrest, improving school infrastructure, and strengthening fire prevention measures are crucial steps in curbing these devastating incidents.
While solutions are being discussed, the devastating toll on families and communities cannot be overstated. As authorities continue their investigations, the country mourns the loss of young lives while grappling with the urgent need for reform in the education sector.
What have been the worst fires?
One of the most devastating school fires in Kenya occurred in 2001 at Kyanguli Secondary School in Machakos County, where 67 boys tragically lost their lives—the highest death toll from any school fire in the country. Nineteen others were severely injured. The fire spread through a dormitory, which had been locked at one end, and bars on the windows left many students trapped inside with no escape route.
Two students, Felix Mambo Ngumbao and 16-year-old Davis Onyango Opiyo, were arrested and charged with murder. However, after a lengthy trial, the case was declared a mistrial in 2006, and the fate of the suspects remains unclear. In 2019, the Kenyan government compensated the affected families with a total of 54 million Kenyan shillings (about $419,384).
Another significant incident occurred in 2017 at Moi Girls High School in Nairobi, where an arson attack claimed the lives of 10 girls. A 14-year-old student was charged with manslaughter after the court determined she did not intend to cause harm. In 2022, she was sentenced to five years in jail.
Other fires in recent decades in Kenya include:
- 1997 at Bombolulu Girls Secondary School in the southern coastal Kwale county: 26 girls died in a suspected arson attack.
- 1999 at Nyeri High School in Nyeri: Four male senior prefects were locked in a dormitory by fellow students and set ablaze. All died.
- 2010 at Endarasha Boys Secondary School in Nyeri: Two boys died in a fire.
- 2021 at Buruburu Girls School in Nairobi: 63 girls were hospitalised after a fire.
Cases of school arson seldom lead to trials or convictions. The 2022 ruling in the Moi Girls High School case was considered a groundbreaking event in the nation due to the infrequency of such convictions in school arson cases.
Why are schools being set on fire by youths in Kenya?
Frustration and anger are key factors
According to a 2017 report by Kenya’s National Crime Research Centre (NCRC), student arsonists often act out of frustration with inadequate school conditions or anger towards teachers they view as unapproachable. Additional motivations include stress from exams, stringent regulations, and long school terms.
In the Machakos incident, the two boys who were apprehended and charged with arson were reportedly upset over the annulment of their exam results following a cheating investigation, among other grievances.
Also Read: Body identification for Hillside Endarasha fire victims set to begin Monday
In 2021, following COVID-19 closures, Kenyan students told journalists that their days began at 4:30 a.m. and ended at 10 p.m. in an effort to make up for lost study time. They also noted that the workload had increased significantly as teachers hurried to cover the curriculum.
Discipline issues and peer influence
The NCRC also linked the trend to peer pressure and imitation by students who were aware of similar incidents in other schools.
A 2018 report commissioned by the Kenyan Parliament additionally highlighted substance abuse as a factor contributing to school unrest, including arson and student protests.
Moreover, the lack of adequate counseling services in schools was found to be worsening these problems.
How are authorities addressing the issue of arson attacks?
Despite the ongoing problem, research conducted in 2022 revealed that the Kenyan school curriculum had yet to incorporate fire hazards and safety training.
According to Muawya’s study, half of the public schools had not conducted fire safety assessments for their buildings. In Machakos County, the area with the highest number of fatalities, over 75 percent of surveyed students were unfamiliar with the concept of a fire drill.
On a positive note, many schools have equipped themselves with fire extinguishers. In response to student stress, authorities in 2023 also eliminated highly stressful mock exams, which were previously used to prepare final-year students for their school-leaving certificate exams.
