At least 17 pupils killed in Kenya school fire, police say

The fire started around midnight in a dorm housing 156 boys, BBC Africa Correspondent Anne Soy says.

Speaking on BBC News this morning, she says after seeing the fire, "neighbours rushed to the school" to help put it out.

It is still a matter of piecing together information but parents have gone to the school to look for their children.

Most people would have found out about the fire from the media, she says.

And on how it started, Soy adds that there are no theories yet. Some witnesses have said by the time they woke up, their dormitory was "engulfed".

The school fire epidemic in Kenya

School fires are not uncommon for Kenya. Repeated incidents have taken place for more than 30 years.

In 2022, a dormitory in western Kenya burnt down, with several students being arrested on suspicion of arson and the year before there was a spike in the number of arson attacks on boarding schools.

In 2017, 10 students died in an arson attack at Moi Girls High School in the capital Nairobi.

At least 67 students died in Machakos county, south-east of Nairobi, in the deadliest Kenyan school arson that took place more than 20 years ago.

The Ministry of Education says some of the reasons behind the attacks include drug abuse, poor teacher-student relations, overcrowding and poor counselling services.

Some students have also complained about poor school conditions, with others citing tough exams for their defiance.

For a detailed look into the problem, read our story on this epidemic

Over 150 pupils were in the dormitory - police

More than 150 pupils were in the dormitory that caught fire around midnight, local police boss Pius Murugu said.

The fire spread very fast as most of the buildings in the school are built with timber, according to a journalist from Citizen TV.

The school has a total of 824 pupils, mostly aged between five and 12.

Homicide investigators are already at the school.

A multi-agency response team is at the scene

Kenyan police have cordoned off the school, according to Kenya Red Cross.

On social media the group say they, alongside a multi-agency response team, are on the ground at the scene.

They are also providing psychological support services to pupils, teachers and affected families.

What do we know about the school?

Hillside Endarasha Academy is a private primary boarding school.

We do not know the ages yet of those who died, but in Kenya primary schools cater to pupils from six to 14-years-old.

The school is in the Central Highlands of Kenya, 150km (93 miles) north of Nairobi.

According to news agency AFP, the school caters to around 800 children.

Kenya's president orders investigation into 'devastating' fire

Kenya's President William Ruto says the news of the fire is "devastating" and has ordered an investigation into its cause.

"We pray for speedy recovery to the survivors," he says on social media.

"I instruct relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate this horrific incident. Those responsible will be held to account.

"The government under the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of the National Government is mobilising all the necessary resources to support the affected families."

-BBC