An elementary school in Kieni, Nyeri County, lost 17 pupils to the dormitory inferno, whose cause is to be established. 14 more were seriously injured, currently recuperating after being rushed to the hospital in the early morning of Friday.
The ill-fated school, Hillside Endarasha Academy, reportedly has a total enrollment of 824 students, both boys and girls. Out of those, 160 girls and 156 boys are boarders, while the rest are day scholars. According to Basic Education PS, Dr. Belio Kipsang, all the 156 male boarders were staying in the doused dormitory.
Parents who were awakened by the shocking revelation rushed to the school to find out the state of their children. Some parents who had picked their children from the school have been implored to return them, as the ministry of education seeks to account for every learner.
Kipsang has also asked parents and people of goodwill who turned to assist during the incident to help account for the students.
“We’re trying to account for every child. We are asking parents who may have picked their children and members of the community who may have assisted last night to help account for them,” he said.
A team from the Read Cross and other wellwishers were present on the site to help expedite the rescue efforts. The government had already sent sleuths from the homicide department to investigate the cause of the fire.
Lots of condolences have poured in, both from the senior state officials and concerned Kenyans. President William Ruto in his absence posted a condolence message on the X handle to the affected families and friends and instructed the relevant bodies to investigate the incident. He said that those found culpable will be held to account.
“Our thoughts are with the families of the children who have lost their lives in the fire tragedy at Hillside Endaras Academy in Neyri County. Authorities to thoroughly investigate this horrifc incident. These responsible will held to account… Poleni san,” President Ruto’s condolence message.
On the other hand, the government, under the Ministry of Education, has donated hundreds of bags of cereal and bedding to the ill-fated school.
The government donated 50 bags of rice, 50 bags of beans, 100 blankets, and 100 mattresses to replenish the amount of loss the school has incurred from inferno. However, a section of netizens has strongly criticized and condemned donations instead of prioritizing students’ safety.
