17 Students Killed In Another Kenya School Fire; Why Are These Incidents Common?

New Delhi: In a heart-wrenching tragedy, a devastating fire in a school dormitory in Kenya killed 17 students and led to serious burn injuries to 13 others.

Police feared that the death toll could rise, reported PTI.

The cause of the fire, which broke out late on Thursday night at the Hillside Endarasha Primary in Nyeri county, is being investigated.

This is not the first incident of fire in Kenyan boarding schools which are preferred as parents believe it gives them more time to study without having to commute long distances. But this also results in overcrowding in hostels.

The Star Kenya shared a graphic on X showing the history of school fires.

According to a recent Education ministry report, arson — fuelled by drug abuse and overcrowding – have often led to fire.

The deadliest school mishap took place in 2001 when 67 students died in a dormitory fire in Machakos county.

In 2017, 10 high school students lost their lives in a fire stoked by a student in Nairobi.