Burial Plans Commence as All Hillside Endarasha Fire Victims After DNA Matching
Families and relatives of the 21 students who tragically perished in the Hillside Endarasha Academy fire can now move forward with burial arrangements after government pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor completed the DNA identification process. The victims had been burned beyond recognition during the dormitory fire on September 5, 2024.
At the Naromoru Funeral Home on Wednesday, Dr. Oduor announced the conclusion of the DNA matching exercise.
He reported that the process, which involved matching DNA samples from the victims with those of their relatives, had been successful. This brings closure to the families, as the unidentified bodies, all burned beyond recognition, were matched to their parents’ DNA samples.
Earlier, Dr. Oduor mentioned that some parts of the bodies, particularly the lower limbs, had been reduced to ashes. Despite this, the successful completion of the DNA exercise has now provided a path forward for the families.
Details of the Fire and Victims
The fire, which occurred in a dormitory housing 164 students, claimed 21 lives. Among these, 19 boys were burned beyond recognition. Dr. Oduor noted that the government chemist had successfully matched the DNA of all the victims to their respective parents. He added that efforts were now underway to reunite the families with their loved ones.
This process, however, will involve extensive counseling for the grieving families to help them cope with the emotional aftermath of the tragedy.
Counseling Services for Families
Esther Chege, the Head of the Central Region at the Kenya Red Cross (KRC), explained that the organization had already begun informing the affected families of the DNA results.
The families would be invited to the Naromoru Hospital Mortuary starting Thursday, September 19, where they will undergo pre-counseling sessions to prepare them emotionally before they view their loved ones.
Chege emphasized the importance of settling the minds of the families before they see their relatives. They will be guided through the process of receiving the remains of their loved ones, with continued emotional support throughout the grieving period.
The KRC will assist the families from the moment they identify their relatives to the burial and beyond.
Wider Community Support
In addition to helping the grieving families, Chege revealed that counseling services would be extended to others affected by the tragedy, including children, teachers, and the broader community. The school community, as well as first responders, will also receive counseling due to the difficult nature of the situation.
To meet the increased demand for emotional support, the KRC is collaborating with the County’s Department of Health and other partners.
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A working group of counselors from different organizations has been established to ensure ongoing support for all those affected by the tragedy. Chege reiterated their commitment to providing long-term emotional assistance to the families and the wider community.
As preparations for the burial begin, Acting Central Regional Commissioner Pius Murugu stated that the Disaster Committee would convene on Friday to finalize the burial date. He confirmed that with the DNA results now available, the burial arrangements could proceed as planned.
Burial Plans Commence as All Hillside Endarasha Fire Victims After DNA Matching
