MOST DEADLY SCHOOL TRAGEDIES IN KENYA
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Here are some of the most deadly school tragedies in Kenya’s history along with how the tragedies started and who was responsible (where known).
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1. Garissa University College Attack (2015)
What happened: Gunmen attacked Garissa University College and killed 148 people, most of them students.
How it started: Armed militants stormed the campus in the early morning and took students hostage.
Culprits: The Islamist extremist group Al‑Shabaab claimed responsibility, saying they targeted non‑Muslim students.
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2. Kyanguli Secondary School Fire (2001)
What happened: A dormitory at Kyanguli Secondary School in Machakos County was set on fire, killing 67 students.
How it started: Two students planned to burn down part of the school late at night.
Culprits: Two 16‑year‑old students — Davis Onyango Opiyo and Felix Mambo Ngumbao — were charged with murder in connection with the fire.
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3. St. Kizito Secondary School Massacre (1991)
What happened: 19 girls were killed and many others were harmed in a violent attack at St. Kizito Secondary School in Meru County.
How it started: Male students forcefully entered the girls’ dormitory after growing tensions and disagreements during a planned school strike.
Culprits: Male classmates at the school carried out the attack; dozens were arrested.
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4. Hillside Endarasha Academy Fire (2024)
What happened: A fire in a dormitory in Nyeri County claimed at least 21 lives.
How it started: A fire broke out in the early morning. Investigations were launched, and the exact cause has not been officially confirmed.
Culprits: Cause not fully determined; investigations focused on safety standards and infrastructure issues.
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5. Bombolulu Girls Secondary School Fire (1998)
What happened: A dormitory fire at Bombolulu Girls Secondary School in Kwale County killed 26 girls.
How it started: A fire broke out in an overcrowded dorm; the exit routes were limited.
Culprits: The cause was suspected to be arson, though specific individuals were not publicly confirmed.
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6. Nyeri High School Arson (1999)
What happened: Four prefects at Nyeri High School were killed after students set a dormitory on fire.
How it started: Suspended students returned and used petrol in a revenge attack.
Culprits: Fellow students seeking retaliation were identified, and at least one was later sentenced.
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7. Moi Girls High School Fire (2017)
What happened: A fire at the girls’ boarding school in Nairobi killed 10 students.
How it started: The blaze started in a dormitory at night.
Culprits: A 14‑year‑old student was later convicted; she reportedly set the fire because she wanted to leave the school.
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8. Endarasha Boys Secondary School Fire (2010)
What happened: A dormitory fire resulted in two deaths.
How it started: Students deliberately set the building on fire and locked two classmates inside.
Culprits: Some students at the school were held responsible for starting the fire.
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Kakamega Primary School Stampede (3 February 2020)
What happened: Pupils at Kakamega Primary School were leaving classes to go home when a stampede occurred on a narrow staircase. At least 14 children were killed and dozens were injured.
How it started: The stampede began just after the school day ended (around 5 p.m.) as learners were moving down from upper floors. There are differing accounts of what triggered the panic — some reports mention a teacher with a cane frightened students, while others say the rush and narrow stairways caused pupils to trip and fall, triggering a crush.
Who was responsible: There was no single individual formally blamed as a criminal culprit. Investigations looked into whether panic was triggered by a teacher’s actions, school management practices, or unsafe infrastructure, but the tragedy was largely attributed to the chaotic movement of students down a crowded staircase rather than a planned attack.
This tragedy is remembered for how quickly it unfolded as children tried to exit the school building, and it highlighted concerns about school infrastructure, crowd control, and student safety in crowded educational settings in Kenya.
