Hillside Academy Fire: Education PS Calls for Return of Picked Students

Education PS Belio Kipsang has requested help in tracking all the students affected by the fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County.

The devastating fire engulfed one of the dormitories, claiming the lives of 17 young students. The blaze, which occurred overnight, has left the community reeling in shock and grief. Kipsang has called on parents who may have collected their children from the school to return them and urged community members who offered help during the emergency to come forward. Kipsang emphasizes the importance of accounting for every child, stating that this information is crucial for the ongoing response to the tragedy. During his visit to the school, PS Kipsang revealed that Hillside Endarasha Academy had an enrollment of 824 students, with 402 boys and 422 girls.

The dormitory that was destroyed in the fire housed 156 boys. In total, 316 students were boarders while the remainder were day scholars. The fire also resulted in injuries to 14 other pupils, some of whom are now hospitalized with serious burns. To aid in the identification and accounting of students, the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) has established a tracing desk at the school. Esther Chege, KRCS head in Mt Kenya, explains that this desk would assist parents in identifying their children and provide information on those who have been hospitalized. The cause of the fire remains undetermined, with investigations currently underway.

Nyeri County Commissioner Pius Murugu notes that the dormitory caught fire around 3:00 am and the predominantly wooden structures in the school exacerbated the spread of the blaze. Despite the quick response of disaster management teams from the county government, the loss of life could not be prevented. President William Ruto has ordered a thorough investigation into the incident, assuring that those responsible will be held accountable. He has also stated that the government is mobilizing necessary resources to support the affected families. Deputy Director of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations John Onyango is leading a team of investigators at the school, including experts from the homicide and forensic departments.

In response to the tragedy, various organizations have stepped in to provide support. The Ministry of Health and the County Government Health Department are assessing medical needs on-site. The Pankaj Foundation has donated first aid kits, while MP Shah Hospital is sending medical supplies. The Kenya Red Cross is offering critical counselling services to victims and their families. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, who was in China at the time of the incident, is returning to join local teams in addressing the situation.