Kenya: Girls' school fire claims 7 lives, 16 wounded

By Andrew Wasike and Magdalene Mukami

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) – Seven Kenyan girls perished in a dormitory fire in capital Nairobi in the early hours of Saturday, according to officials.

Following the fire at the Moi Girls School, 16 other girls have been admitted to the Nairobi Women's Hospital, including three in critical condition, Education Secretary Fred Matiang’i told reporters at the school.

The fire started at 2 a.m. local time on Saturday (2300GMT Friday), and the cause has yet to be determined, he added.

"What we know is that one of the dormitories was razed and we need to establish why that happened. We have decided to close the school for two weeks," Matiang’i said.

Moi has over 1,000 students and is among the top schools in the East African nation.

One student’s mother could be seen wailing outside the school principal’s office, and other parents could be seen at a Red Cross desk set up to handle inquiries.

"Our children don't have phones in school so I rushed here because as a parent I'm worried, but we have yet to be told where our children are," said parent Joyce Mwambia.

"Some parents have been reunited with their children but for me I am just waiting … praying."