DNA testing in Kenya is set to begin to identify the young boys who tragically died in a school dormitory fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County.
The fire, which broke out late Thursday night while the students were asleep, claimed the lives of 21 children, raising significant concerns about safety in Kenyan schools.
Nineteen bodies were discovered in the ruins of the dormitory, with two additional victims succumbing to injuries in the hospital. Police reported that many of the children, aged between nine and 13, were burned beyond recognition. As a result, families have been anxiously waiting for DNA testing to identify their loved ones.
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Nyeri County Commissioner Pius Murigu encouraged affected families to visit Naromoru Hospital for the forensic identification process. Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor announced that postmortem examinations were scheduled to begin on Tuesday.
In response to the tragedy, President William Ruto declared a three-day national mourning period, with flags flown at half-mast from Monday to Wednesday. He emphasized the need for accountability in schools and launched a full investigation to determine the cause of the fire.
The Kenya Red Cross is offering psychological support to survivors and the families of victims. The blaze has sparked renewed debate on the safety of educational institutions in Kenya, where similar deadly incidents have occurred in the past.
Meanwhile, another fire broke out at Isiolo Girls High School over the weekend, causing injuries, while a dormitory at Njia Boys High School in Meru was destroyed in a separate incident, though no casualties were reported. Authorities are investigating whether negligence or overcrowding contributed to the Endarasha fire.
