President William Ruto has mourned 17 Hillside Endarasha Academy pupils who died in an inferno on Friday morning.
The head of state, who is in China, ordered relevant authorities to investigate the matter. He assured that those found culpable will be brought to book.
“Our thoughts are with the families of the children who have lost their lives in the fire tragedy at the Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County. This is devastating news,” he wrote on X.
He added: “I instruct relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate this horrific incident. Those responsible will be held to account.”
Dr Ruto wished the injured a speedy recovery and noted that the government would mobilize “all the necessary resources to support the affected families”.
“The Government under the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of the National Government is mobilizing all the necessary resources to support the affected families. Poleni sana.”
The pupils are said to have been burnt beyond recognition.
There are fears the death toll could rise as more than a dozen others have been taken to hospital with severe burns.
The cause of the fire at Hillside Endarasha Primary in Nyeri county is not yet known.
The Kenya Red Cross said it was providing psychosocial support services to the pupils, teachers and affected families, and had set up a tracing desk at the school.
Hillside Endarasha Academy is a private primary school, located near Nyeri town.
