Hillside Endarasha fire death toll rises to 21

The death toll in the Endarasha Hillside Academy fire has risen to 21, as three more pupils have been confirmed dead.

Government spokesman Isaac Mwaura announced at a press briefing that the fire had claimed 19 lives on the site and two more students had succumbed to their injuries in the hospital.

“Nineteen bodies have been recovered from the scene with the help of the DCI and the government pathologist on site. Two additional deaths have occurred in hospital at the Kenyatta National Hospital and Mary Immaculate Hospital, Nyeri,” he said.

At the time of the press briefing, 139 students had been located and accounted for. Mwaura mentioned that these students were either receiving treatment in a hospital or were safely at home with their families. However 17 students were still missing.

Nyeri County officials have urged parents who took their children home after the fire to notify the school and assist in confirming their safety.

159 pupils were in the dormitory when it caught fire at around 1 a.m., when most of the students were asleep.

Despite the swift arrival of first responders, the fire had spread so quickly that they were unable to contain it.

On Saturday, parents who came to the school were not allowed in while detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations searched the dormitory for clues about the cause of the fire. The distraught parents have expressed frustration over the slow progress in locating their missing children.

John Onyango, Deputy Director of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, and Martin Nyoguto, Director of Homicide, were tasked with investigating the incident at the school.

The director of public prosecution Renson Ingonga directed the police to investigate whether the fire was caused by negligence or recklessness on the part of those responsible.

“Any person found culpable towards the fire tragedy shall be expediently taken through the due process of a criminal trial,” Ingonga said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The area has been cordoned off to the media, and homicide detectives and forensic experts are investigating the incident.

The dormitory was completely destroyed by the fire, leaving behind a charred shell with a collapsed roof. According to the National Gender and Equality Commission, the dormitory was overcrowded, which may have violated safety regulations.

Lawrence Gachoya, the chair of the Kenya Private Schools Association in Nyeri, offered his sympathies to the parents and school management.

“We came to bring our condolences to the director of the school and parents. The best we can do is ensure the school continues for the benefit of the learners,” he said.

The Chief Government Pathologist, Johansen Oduor, has stated that autopsies will begin on Tuesday.

Pope Francis has conveyed his condolences, expressing profound sadness and spiritual support for those affected by the tragedy.

School fires are relatively common in Kenyan boarding schools, where concerns have been raised about safety standards.

In 2001, a devastating arson attack resulted in the death of 67 pupils in a secondary school in Machakos. Two pupils were charged with murder.

In 2017, 10 students died in an arson attack at Moi Girls High School in the capital Nairobi.