At least 17 pupils have been killed and 14 others seriously injured following a fire incident at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Kieni, Nyeri County.
National Police Service Spokesperson Resila Onyango has confirmed the incident, which occurred on Thursday night, September 5.
One of the dormitories in the school caught fire, resulting in the fatalities.
The police spokesperson noted that the cause of the inferno has not yet been established.
The 14 pupils who suffered serious burns have been rushed to the hospital.
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Of the 17 fatalities, 15 students died at the scene, one died en route to the hospital, and another succumbed while receiving treatment.
A team of police officers led by Deputy Director DCI John Onyango has been deployed to the school to investigate the cause of the incident.
The Kenya Red Cross has disclosed that it has deployed an emergency response team to the scene, which is currently cordoned off by police.
The humanitarian organisation also stated that it is providing psychosocial support services to the pupils, teachers, and affected families, and has set up a tracing desk at the school.
"Following the tragic fire incident at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri, the Kenya Red Cross, alongside a multi-agency response team, has been on the ground responding. Eleven children have been taken to Nyeri Provincial General Hospital," the Kenya Red Cross stated.
