17 Pupils Die in Hillside Endarasha Academy Dormitory Fire, 17 Others Injured

17 pupils perished in a midnight dormitory fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri on Thursday night. 17 learners were also injured in the dormitory which had 156 pupils when the
incident occurred.

It is said that the fire broke out at around 11pm where firefighters from Kiawara came to the incident to rescue but the fire was too large to handle requiring them to seek assistance from Nyeri Fire Brigade but all was in vain because by the time Nyeri Fire Brigade arrived the damage had been done and they couldn’t rescue anything. This was around 3am.

Kipsang also stated that the Ministry of Education is collaborating with other ministries to ensure that the injured students are given the best medical attention in order to manage the situation.

Education Principal Secretary (PS) Dr Belio Kipsang released a statement on Friday stating that the occupants of the burnt dormitory were all boys.
He said, “The fire incident left 14 other learners injured and are being attended to in various hospitals. The school has a total enrolment of 824. Of these, 402 are boys while 422 are girls. Of the total enrolment of 824 learners, 156 boys and 160 girls are boarders while the rest are day scholars. All the 156 boys boarders were accommodated in the ill-fated dormitory,”

“The Ministry of Education is currently working with the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, and Ministry of Health to manage the situation, and ensure the injured learners are given the best medical attention,” Kipsang said.

The Ministry of Education is coordinating with security agencies to investigate the root cause of the fire incident at the school. The incident has also forces the cabinet Secretary for education Julius Migosi to fly back from China to Kenya.

“In line with His Excellency President William Ruto’s directive, the Ministry of Education is coordinating with security agencies to investigate the root cause of the fire incident at the school. Education CS Julius Migos Ogamba, who has been on an official trip in China is on his way back to join our local teams to ensure the situation is addressed with utmost urgency,” Kipsang added.

President Willliam Ruto, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and other national leaders have passed their heartfelt condolences to the families of pupils who lost their lives in the incident.

“In the meantime, I am currently on the ground leading the local multi-agency team to manage the situation. The Ministry of Education sends its sincere and heartfelt condolences to the parents, families and friends of the learners who lost their lives in this regrettable tragedy,” PS Education concluded.