In recent years, school fires in Kenya have become a terrifying and all-too-familiar occurrence, particularly in boarding schools. The recent fire on September 5 has once again raised urgent questions about the causes of these fires. Below is a look at some of the most tragic fires in Kenya’s history:

Hillside Endarasha Primary School (2024)

A devastating fire at Hillside Endarasha Primary School in Nyeri County claimed the lives of at least 17 students and left 13 others seriously injured when a dormitory caught fire. The remains of the victims were burnt beyond recognition. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the blaze.

St. Kizito Secondary School (1991)

In one of the country’s worst school tragedies,19 girls were killed after boys stormed their dormitory, attacked, sexually assaulted, and set it ablaze. The boys had short-circuited the electricity supply to lure the girls out of their classrooms. When the girls hid in an overcrowded dormitory, the boys pelted it with stones and set it on fire.

Bombolulu Girls Secondary School (1998)

A fire at Bombolulu Girls Secondary School near Mazeras, Kwale, resulted in the deaths of 26 girls. The students were in an overcrowded dormitory with one locked door and barred windows. Some girls were killed in a stampede as they tried to escape through two narrow doors.

Nyeri High School (1999)

Four prefects at Nyeri High School were locked in the main cubicle of the boys’ dormitory by fellow students, who then doused it with petrol and set it on fire. The students responsible had been suspended the previous term and sought revenge.

Kyanguli Secondary School (2001)

On March 25, 2001, a fire set by two 16-year-old students at Kyanguli Secondary School in Kenya resulted in the deaths of 67 students. The students were protesting against the new principal and school conditions, including poor food quality and unpaid fees. Legal action was taken, but a mistrial was declared in 2006 due to corruption allegations. A memorial park now stands in place of the dormitory, and in 2019, the government compensated each family of the victims.

Endarasha Boys Secondary School (2010)

In 2010, a dormitory fire at Endarasha Boys High School in Nyeri resulted in the deaths of two boys after 11 students started the blaze. Fourteen suspects, including a businessman, were charged with two counts of murder but were acquitted after a 10-year legal process.

Asumbi Girls Boarding Primary School (2012)

A fire at Asumbi Girls Boarding Primary School in Homa Bay in 2012 claimed the lives of eight pupils. The dormitory had grilled windows, no emergency exit, and was locked from the outside, making it difficult for the pupils to escape. The fire was suspected to have started following an electrical surge after a blackout that had lasted all day. The pupils were attending holiday tuition, which had been outlawed by the government.

Moi Girls School Nairobi (2017)

An 18-year-old schoolgirl was sentenced to five years in prison for her role in a 2017 dormitory fire that killed 10 students at Moi Girls School in Nairobi. She was 14 years old and in her first year at the prestigious school when the incident occurred.

Common Causes and Concerns

The leading cause of many of these fires is arson—intentionally set by students who often harbor dissatisfaction, unrest, or protest, particularly at night in dormitories where escape routes are limited. The recurrence of such incidents underscores the urgent need for enhanced safety measures and crisis management strategies in Kenyan schools to protect the lives of students.

ALSO READ: President Ruto orders investigation into Hillside Endarasha Academy fire tragedy