Deputy president Gachagua arrives for the service
Ambulances carrying the bodies at the memorial
The Kenya Red Cross carrying a casket of one of the students
Nine out of the 21 students who lost their lives in the fire tragedy at Hillside Endarasha Academy on September 5 will be buried today amidst tears from relatives, friends, and government officials.
The fire broke out in one of the dormitories and left 21 students dead while they were still sleeping.
Attending the interdenominational memorial service at Mweiga Stadium in Nyeri were high-profile personalities, including Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, and Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga.
While addressing the grieving families, Governor Kahiga detailed the burial arrangements, saying, “Once we leave here, we will have burials in nine homes, tomorrow we will do so for another 10 pupils, and on Saturday, we shall finish with the remaining two.”
Wiper Leader Kalonzo alongside other politicians
The Governor added that the last meeting of the committee overseeing the follow-up to the aftermath of the tragedy would be held on Monday, in addition to the care given by the government to the families of the victims.
When the fire started at around midnight, there were more than 150 pupils inside the dormitory.
Majority of the victims died at the scene. Two other victims died at the hospital later as a result of severe injuries from the fire incident.
Government Spokesman Isaac Mwaura had earlier described the incident as “a catastrophe beyond imagination”. He assured the public that they are investigating the root cause of the fire.
The memorial was somber, with parents and community members mourning the loss of the young lives taken so shortly.
The leaders, among them CS Ogamba, have spoken to the need for enhanced measures that ensure safety within schools, more so boarding facilities, to avoid the recurrence of such tragedies.
