Endarasha tragedy: DCI reveals eight boys were absent before tragic fire

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) now says that eight boys had not reported to Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri for the third term before the devastating fire tragedy claimed 21 lives on September 5, 2024.

Abraham Mugambi, Director of Criminal Investigations in Central Region, gave an update on the current progress of the investigation into the tragic incident on Wednesday.

He explained that the school, which reopened for the third term on September 3, 2024, had a total of 330 students, including 166 girls and 164 boys.

"Since the school had only opened for the third term on September 3, 2024, 8 boys had not reported back, leaving 156 boys in the boys' dormitory on that tragic night," Mugambi revealed.

The DCI confirmed that all 166 girls are safe and have been accounted for with their families.

Out of the 156 boys in the dormitory, 140 have also been confirmed safe.

However, two of the five boys who were admitted from the fire succumbed to their injuries.

"This brings the total number of deaths to 21, with 19 bodies recovered from the destroyed dormitory," Mugambi added.

Since the tragedy occurred, the DCI has been working with several agencies to investigate the cause of the fire.

Parents wait in agony and pain to learn the whereabouts of their children after a fire claimed the lives of nearly 17 students at Endarasha Hill Academy in Nyeri on Thursday, September 5, 2024. (Photo: Handout)

They include the Central Region Disaster Management Committee, fire safety experts, and officials from the County Government of Nyeri, as well as the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, and other relevant bodies.

According to DCI, the goal is to find any mistakes or oversights that caused the tragedy.

In addition, Director Mugambi pointed out that there are ongoing efforts to identify the victims.

Experts from the government chemist and the DCI forensics team have already collected DNA samples from the families of those who died, and they are working to match the severely burnt remains to their loved ones.

The 21 bodies will undergo an autopsy on September 12, 2024.

"The DCI extends heartfelt condolences to the families and friends who have lost their loved ones and pledges to conduct expeditious and thorough investigations into this tragedy," Mugambi added.

Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga, in a September 7, 2024, dated letter, asked the DCI to investigate the matter and forward the file to his office.

"The DPP assures the public that any person found culpable towards the fire tragedy shall be expediently taken through the due process of a criminal trial," he said.

Due to the traumatic nature of the incident, the DCI had previously stated that they had yet to interview key victims and suspects. He explained that the victims were receiving psychosocial care before the police could move in and start interviewing them.

A signage painted on a wall at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri. (Photo: Handout)

Police have interviewed David Kinyua, the school's owner and director, several teachers, the matron, and the on-duty guard.

Already, Kenya Power ruled out an electric fault as the cause of the fire at Hillside.

"We have ascertained there was no link between the cause of the fire and any fault on our network as alleged in sections of media reports," Kenya Power said in a statement.

The company said it has mobilised a technical team to visit the school and carry out a preliminary analysis of the affected site.

"The line supplying the school is a low-voltage line from Mweiga sub-station. At the time when the fire incident occurred, supply was stable on this line with no reported incidences," Kenya Power said.

Kenya Power stated that the metre, supply cable, earthings, low voltage and high tension fuses, and transformer were all intact.

It further added that the fire did not affect two prepaid metres located within the larger school's complex.

"This was the case for all other adjacent customers supplied by the same transformer."

Kenya Power stated that the findings were based on a preliminary analysis of its protection system, from the metre box to the substation where the medium voltage line serving the school originates.

"As a company, electrical safety is of utmost priority in all our operations. Upon receiving the news of this fire incident, our team in Nyeri switched off the power supply to the school as a precautionary measure while handling fire incidences," the company stated.