NAIROBI, Kenya — A fire in a school dormitory in Kenya killed 17 students and seriously burned 13 others, the police said on Friday, and there were fears that the death toll would rise.

The cause of the fire on Thursday night at Hillside Endarasha Primary in Nyeri County, north of Nairobi, was being investigated, said a police spokeswoman, Resila Onyango.

President William Ruto called the news “devastating” and said action would be taken against those responsible.

“I instruct relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate this horrific incident. Those responsible will be held to account,” he wrote on the social media platform X.

His deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, urged school administrators to ensure that safety guidelines recommended by the Education Ministry for boarding schools were being followed.

Boarding schools are popular in Kenya, because parents believe they give students more time to study without long commutes.