• At least 17 pupils killed in Kenya school fire
• The blaze left over a dozen students hospitalised with severe burns
• The cause of the fire is under investigation

At least 17 pupils have died in a fire at Hillside Endarasha Primary School in Nyeri County, central Kenya, according to police. The blaze, which broke out Thursday night, has also left over a dozen students hospitalised with severe burns. 

The cause of the fire is under investigation, and a team of investigators has been dispatched to the scene, police spokesperson Resila Onyango reported. 

The Kenya Red Cross is offering psychosocial support to students, teachers, and families affected by the tragedy and has set up a tracing desk at the school.

School fires have been a recurring issue in Kenya, with notable incidents including a 2017 arson attack at Moi Girls High School in Nairobi that killed 10 students, and a devastating fire in Machakos County over 20 years ago that resulted in the deaths of 67 students.