President William Ruto has announced a three-day period of national mourning following the devastating blaze that claimed the lives of 18 students of Hillside Endarasha Academy on Friday, September 6.
The period of mourning will commence on Monday, September 9, and conclude on Wednesday, September 11.
In a heartfelt statement issued late on Friday, President Ruto, currently in China and expected back in Kenya over the weekend, declared, "As a solemn testament to the indelible mark left upon the nation's consciousness by the spirits of the eighteen departed children, Kenya shall observe a three-day period of national mourning."
During this time, the President has mandated that the flags of Kenya and the East African Community (EAC) be flown at half-mast. This directive extends to the State House, all Kenyan diplomatic missions, public buildings, public grounds, military bases, naval vessels, and across the entire country, from dawn on Monday until sunset on Wednesday.
The victims, aged between 9 and 13 and in Grades 4 to 8, perished in a blaze that has left the nation in deep mourning.
The inferno, the details of which are still emerging, has sent shockwaves through the country. The loss of these young lives is felt acutely, as communities across Kenya grapple with the grief and loss of children whose futures were tragically extinguished.
The search for missing students continues as the government and humanitarian agencies work tirelessly to account for those affected by the catastrophic inferno at the school in Nyeri.
The blaze, which engulfed the school’s dormitory in the early hours of Friday, has raised urgent questions as families and authorities grapple with the aftermath.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has disclosed that 70 students are still unaccounted for. This figure does not necessarily indicate casualties but includes students who might have been taken home by their parents or remain lost amidst the chaos.
“We still cannot account for 70 pupils,” Gachagua stated, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding their whereabouts.
He urged parents and local residents to report any children who might have been removed from the scene during the confusion. “I am appealing to each and every parent who took their child to report to us so that we know where those children are,” he emphasised.
This plea aims to clarify whether the missing students have been safely relocated or are still untraceable.
The inferno has tragically claimed the lives of 18 boys following the confirmation that one student succumbed to injuries in hospital.
The blaze consumed the dormitory of a boarding school housing 311 students, including 156 boys, all of whom were present when the inferno erupted.
According to Gachagua, the government has managed to confirm the whereabouts of 86 students. Of these, 27 are hospitalised with injuries, and 37 have been located with their parents. Despite these efforts, the remaining 70 students’ whereabouts are still unknown, leaving families in a state of desperation and distress.
Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki has visited the site and assured that there will be “full accountability for all whose action or inaction contributed to this tremendous loss.”
The government has pledged to mobilise all available resources to support the affected families, with various ministries coordinating their response to address the crisis.
The authorities continue to work around the clock, with a comprehensive response plan in place to aid those impacted and ensure a thorough investigation into the cause of the blaze.
The president in his statement asserted, "No child should lose their life in a place that is meant to be a safe haven for education, growth, and social development."
