The Nyeri High Court has ordered the closure of the boarding facilities at Hillside Endarasha Academy, raising serious concerns over the safety and well-being of students just weeks after a deadly fire claimed 21 lives at the school.
The ruling was issued on Friday, October 11, following petitions from the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and other concerned groups.
Justice Issac Ondigi, presiding over the case, stated that while the school itself could remain open, the dormitories posed a significant risk to the health and safety of the pupils. "I do not find it necessary to bar the reopening of the school, noting that the academic term is near its end," the judge remarked.
However, he upointed out that there was a credible threat to the welfare of the minors and ordered that no students be housed at the boarding facilities until further assessments are completed.
This order follows the September 5 fire that tore through one of the school's dormitories in Kieni constituency, tragically killing 21 boys and injuring over a dozen others. The fire’s cause remains unknown, intensifying calls for more thorough investigations and accountability from the school administration.
The school, which reopened on Wednesday after a month-long closure, was not expected to shut its boarding facilities so soon. The Ministry of Education had given the green light for the school to resume operations after quality assurance officers conducted assessments and deemed it safe for students to return.
However, the court's latest ruling throws that assurance into doubt, as structural concerns remain unresolved.
The boarding facility that caught fire had been home to 152 boys on the night of the inferno, just four short of its 156-student capacity. While renovation works on the damaged dormitory have been ongoing, the court's decision now forces the school to address safety concerns more comprehensively before students can return to any of the dormitories.
The court also ordered the school to submit reports on health and safety measures, as well as the structural integrity of the dormitories, to the relevant parties by October 16. Failure to comply could lead to more stringent penalties or a prolonged closure of the boarding facilities.
The tragedy prompted a public outcry, with groups like the KHRC and the Elimu Bora Working Group calling for action to protect students. These organisations, along with a concerned parent, David Karani, filed the petition, arguing that the school was not fully equipped to guarantee the safety of students despite efforts to repair the damage.
Jane Njogu, the Nyeri County Director of Education, had previously assured parents that significant repairs had been made. She noted that masons were working around the clock, ensuring that all was ready for the students' return.
"They are moving very fast; they have done a lot of constructions and reconstructions to ensure that the learners are comfortable when they come back to school," Njogu stated.
