One year on, parents of Hillside Endarasha fire victims still demand justice
As the first anniversary of the tragedy passes, families continue to demand transparency, accountability, and answers from both the government and the school, hoping to prevent such a disaster in the future.
One year after a devastating fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County claimed the lives of 21 boys, parents and relatives held a memorial prayer session and a candlelight procession on Thursday to honour their children. They carried photographs of the boys, remembering the lives lost in the tragedy that shook the community.
The fire, which broke out at midnight on September 5, 2024, destroyed one of the school’s dormitories and left dozens of students seriously injured. In the year since, parents say neither the government nor the school has provided explanations or released investigation reports, post-mortem results, or DNA findings.
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“No information has been shared with us, no post-mortem results, no DNA reports, and no findings from the investigation. We still don’t know what caused the death of our sons, or even what we buried,” said a grieving parent.
Parents have also rejected the government’s recommendation for a public inquest, saying it could derail their pursuit of justice. They insist that the findings of the initial investigations be made public and that full accountability is established.
Regarding compensation, parents emphasised that no amount of money could ease their pain.
“Even if we were paid, no money can bring back our sons. All we want is justice and answers," said another parent.
Earlier, a legal battle over reopening the school’s boarding facilities was resolved. The case, filed in October 2024 by the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), Elimu Bora Working Group, and activist David Karani, challenged the school, the Ministry of Education, and the Attorney General for attempting to reopen the boarding section just a month after the fire without adequate safety measures.
The school’s owners, David Kinyua and Mary Wanjeri, represented by lawyer Robert Kimunya, are committed to permanently closing the boarding section and operating the school as a day institution only.
High Court Judge Magare Kizito adopted the consent agreement, ruling that the school would remain a mixed-day institution and that the Ministry of Education and the school must provide psychological support to surviving students, particularly those who lost friends in the fire.
As the first anniversary of the tragedy passes, families continue to demand transparency, accountability, and answers from both the government and the school, hoping to prevent such a disaster in the future.
The parents are hoping that what happened to their sons will be investigated and that justice will prevail so their children can rest in peace.
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