President William Ruto addressed the nation following the horrific deaths of 17 pupils at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County. The Head of State, while giving a statement, declared three days of mourning in honor of the memory of the young lives that were lost.
“As a solemn testament to the indelible mark left upon the nation’s consciousness by the spirits of the seventeen departed children, Kenya shall observe three days of national mourning,” he said.
The President further ordered that the Kenyan and EAC flags be flown at half-mast during these grief-stricken moments.
“I direct that the flags be flown at half-mast from dawn on Monday, September 9, 2024, until sunset on Wednesday, September 11, 2024,” Ruto announced.
This would, in essence, signify a collective expression of sorrow and respect.
The order applies to all government buildings, State House, Kenyan diplomatic missions, public grounds, military bases, and naval vessels.
“The flags will be lowered across all these locations to reflect our shared mourning and unity in this time of deep sadness,” Ruto clarified.
Ruto conveyed his profound sympathy to the families of those affected in his speech.
“Our hearts go out to the bereaved families and the entire community of Nyeri County. I have no words that can fully capture how bad we feel, but we are truly in this together.”
His statement was widely welcomed and supported, as the country struggles to come to terms with losing the lives of the young people in this devastating incident.
The observance of mourning across the nation was in respect to the collective strength and empathy of Kenyans during unimaginable tragedy.
