Ill-fated Hillside Endarasha Academy Dormitory Accommodated 156 Pupils
The dormitory destroyed by flames at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County on Thursday night, which killed 17 students and injured others, was previously housing 156 students, according to the Ministry of Education.
According to reports, the fire started at 11 p.m., and Kiawara firefighters were the first to respond. However, they sought aid from the Nyeri Fire Brigade when they realized the fire was too enormous to tackle alone.
Nyeri firefighters arrived at the scene around 3 a.m., but the damage had already been extensive. In a statement released Friday, Education Principal Secretary (PS) Dr. Belio Kipsang stated that all of the residents of the ill-fated dormitory were males.
Kipsang explained that the fire event harmed 14 other students, who are receiving treatment in various hospitals. The school has a total enrollment of 824. Of these, 402 are males and 422 are girls. Of the total enrolment of 824 students, 156 boys and 160 girls are boarders, while the remainder are day scholars.
The unfortunate dormitory housed all 156 boys who were boarders.
“The Ministry of Education is currently working with the Ministry of Interior and National Administration and the Ministry of Health to manage the situation and ensure the injured learners are given the best medical attention.”
Kipsang stated that the Ministry of Health has also begun investigations to ascertain the cause of the fire. The Education Principal Secretary stated that, in accordance with President William Ruto’s directive, the Ministry of Education was working closely with security agencies to investigate the cause of the fire at the school.
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He added that Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba, who had been on an official trip to China, was on his way back to join the local teams in addressing the situation with the highest urgency.
The PS also reported that he was personally on-site, leading the local multi-agency team to manage the situation. He conveyed the Ministry of Education’s sincere and heartfelt condolences to the parents, families, and friends of the learners who had lost their lives in the tragic incident.
Ill-fated Hillside Endarasha Academy Dormitory Accommodated 156 Pupils