NAIROBI, Kenya-In a devastating incident that has shaken the nation, a fire swept through a dormitory at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Kieni, Nyeri County, claiming the lives of at least 17 pupils.
As 14 other students recover from injuries, Kenya grapples with this profound loss, prompting immediate action from government officials and heartfelt support from communities nationwide.
Late into the night, flames engulfed the boys’ dormitory housing Grades 4 to 8, where 156 pupils were asleep.
Hillside Endarasha Academy, a bustling school with 824 students, became the center of a heartbreaking disaster. While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, the urgency to find answers is palpable.
Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura released an interim statement outlining swift interventions. “We are mobilizing resources to support the affected families and ensure survivors receive necessary care,” Mwaura announced.
Essential supplies—including 50 bags of rice, 50 bags of beans, 100 mattresses, and 100 blankets—were dispatched to the site, expected to arrive by 2 pm.
Medical teams from the Ministry of Health and the County Government Health Department are on the ground assessing needs.
Generous contributions from organizations like the Pankaj Foundation, which donated 50 first aid kits, and MP Shah Hospital, sending medical consumables, are aiding in relief efforts.
The Kenya Red Cross has been instrumental in providing critical counseling services to victims and their families.
Esther Chege, head of Kenya Red Cross Mt. Kenya, announced the establishment of tracing desks at the school to help parents locate their children.
“We’ll gather all details, including those hospitalized, so we can guide families on accessing them,” she explained. Continuous counseling services are being offered to students, parents, and the wider community.
President William Ruto has vowed swift action, directing security agencies to “thoroughly and expeditiously” investigate the horrific incident. “Those responsible will be held to account!” the President declared. “The government, under the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of the National Government, is mobilizing all necessary resources to support the affected families.”
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is expected to visit Hillside Endarasha Academy to offer comfort and support.
Expressing deep sorrow, he said, “We join the families, the school, and the rest of the country in mourning these young departed souls. May God grant the families the fortitude to bear the loss.”
He also urged schools to enforce safety and security measures as outlined by the Ministry of Education to prevent such incidents in the future.
Deputy Director of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), John Onyango, is leading a dedicated team at the school. Accompanied by the head of the homicide unit, Martin Nyuguto, and other experts, they are committed to uncovering the cause of the fire.
“We’re determined to find out who was in the dormitory when the fire broke out and what sparked it,” Onyango stated.
Director of DCI Mohamed Amin has dispatched additional teams from the homicide and forensic departments to aid the investigation.
The affected dormitory has been cordoned off, and officials from Kenya Power have been invited to assist in determining if electrical faults played a role.
