Kenyan school fire victims buried

NAIROBI, Kenya -- The bodies of 58 students killed in a fire at their school have been buried in a mass ceremony.

President Daniel arap Moi and members of his cabinet attended the funeral in Kyangul, about 40 miles (65 km) southeast of Nairobi.

The fire -- one of the deadliest in Kenyan history -- has prompted calls for better safety standards in the country's education system.

Nine other boys, who died in hospital from injuries sustained in the March 26 blaze at Kyanguli Secondary School in Machakos district, are being buried separately.

VIDEO CNN's Catherine Bond reports on the funeral services and investigations into the fire Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

President Moi told mourners that "the government has followed (the investigation) and has reached a stage of knowing what happened."

The 58 victims were buried in six mass graves as many were burnt beyond recognition.

One grieving mother said, gesturing at the three rows of coffins: "The most precious thing has been ripped from me. But I don't even know where my son is now."

"It is a day of shame for Kenya," said the Daily Nation newspaper. "Someone plotted and planned the Kyanguli killings. It was an open secret that trouble had been fermenting in the school for long enough for anyone who cared to have nipped it in the bud."

Police are treating the fire as arson linked to tensions at the school following the decision by the local education authority to annul exam results due to suspicions of cheating.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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Kenya - CIA Factsheet

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