The government, on Monday, issued an update assuring the nation that all 330 learners, 166 girls and 164 boys, were all accounted for after the Hillside Endarasha Academy tragedy that claimed lives of 21 learners.
Despite the assurance by the Government Spokesman Isaac Mwaura, however, some parents are still searching for their offspring more than a week after the tragedy unfolded.
In response to the missing children on Wednesday, Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura explained in a text conversation with Kenyans.co.ke that investigations are underway to ascertain if there was any error during the process.
"That is being investigated to ascertain if there was any error in compiling the list. As pee our records so far, only 19 boys are yet to be matched with their parents since the bodies were burnt beyond recognition. This process is awaiting the DNA testing process that may take a month or so," he shared.
Among the parents is John Mwangi who does not know the fate of his one son, who is still missing, despite being assured that the pupil had escaped from the burning house.
On Tuesday, September 10, Mwangi visited Naromoru Level 4 Hospital to check whether he will be able to identify the body of his child.
While at the hospital, he took a DNA test in hopes of finding his missing son, but he could find his him. The missing son was a grade 6 pupil who did not return home after all learners were sent home.
Like any parent, he could not hide his sorrow as he shared the details of his missing eleven-year-old.
"I am a father of two at Hillside Academy. One is alive and well at home but the other is missing until now,” he explained.
The father of two further narrated that the unknown whereabouts of his one son has left his family anxious, which has weighed them down since the incident.
“He was not among the admitted, so he must be among the bodies and that is why we came for the DNA sampling," he stated empathetically.
Parents who have not yet received their children like Mwangi have been searching for them since the incident happened on Thursday night last week.
Joyce Wangu a grandmother also has not yet received her twelve-year-old grandson. Along with other parents, she too visited the Naromuru morgue in hopes of identifying the body of her grandson.
"I was informed after the tragedy, my grandson fainted and was taken to the hospital with an ambulance," she narrated saying she has since not established his grandson's whereabouts.
On Thursday, a preliminary probe by Kenya Power revealed that the fire was not caused by a faulty line as its installations supplying the school were intact at the time of the tragedy.
