According to officials, the death toll could go up and at least thirteen students have suffered severe burns.
According to a police spokeswoman, the cause of the fire that broke out at Hillside Endarasha Primary in Nyeri county on Thursday night is being looked into.
President William Ruto urged authorities “to thoroughly investigate this horrific incident” and hold those involved accountable in a post on X.
The Kenya Red Cross announced on X that the school has been blocked off and that it was offering “psychosocial support services” to individuals impacted by “the tragic fire incident”.
The pupils were severely burned in the fire, as previously reported by Citizen Television.
Authorities, cited by the media, stated that the fire started at around midnight and quickly spread throughout the dorm while the students were asleep.
Rigathi Gachagua, the deputy president, encouraged school managers to make sure that the safety protocols advised by the education ministry for boarding schools are being adhered to.
In Kenyan boarding schools, where many children attend because their parents feel it allows them more time to study without long trips, school fires are a typical occurrence.
