Kenyan prosecutors have charged eleven students with murder following a fire at a secondary school in central Kenya that claimed the lives of nine pupils in September. The defendants, aged between 14 and 17, appeared before a magistrate in Nyeri on Tuesday. They are accused of starting the blaze at the Hillside Endarasha Academy in a dispute over school rules.
The fire, which broke out in a dormitory, also injured more than twenty others. The United Kingdom has deployed a forensic team to assist Kenyan authorities with the investigation, underscoring the seriousness of the case. The British High Commission in Nairobi confirmed the deployment, which includes experts in fire scene analysis and digital forensics.
The move is part of a broader bilateral agreement on security and judicial cooperation. The case has provoked widespread public anger in Kenya, where school fires have become a recurring problem. In 2017, ten students died in a fire at a school in Kajiado County.
Critics have accused successive governments of failing to enforce safety standards in boarding schools. The students, who have not been named due to their age, were remanded in custody until their next hearing on November 6. The charges against them include murder, arson, and conspiracy to commit a felony.
If convicted, they face life imprisonment. The UK forensic team is expected to remain in Kenya for several weeks. Its presence is intended to ensure that the evidence collected meets international standards.
The case is being watched closely by human rights groups, who have raised concerns about the treatment of minors in the Kenyan justice system. Amnesty International has called for a transparent investigation and for the rights of the accused to be protected. The school, a private institution, has been closed indefinitely.
The tragedy has prompted the Kenyan government to order a nationwide inspection of all boarding schools. Education Minister Julius Ogamba said that any school found to be in violation of safety regulations would face closure. The UK's involvement in the case is a reminder of the enduring ties between the two countries, even as Kenya seeks to reduce its dependence on foreign assistance.
The forensic support is being provided free of charge. The case has also highlighted the challenges facing Kenya's education system, which serves millions of children in sometimes substandard conditions. The government has pledged to improve fire safety standards, but parents and activists remain sceptical.
