Postmortem exercise to begin next week as death toll in Hillside fire tragedy hits 21

The death toll from the devastating fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County has risen to 21, following the recovery of 19 bodies from the scene and the death of two more pupils in the hospital.

Government Spokesman Isaac Mwaura on Saturday extended condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives or suffered injuries in the fire even as the postmortem on the bodies is set to be conducted next week.

"The tragic loss of 21 of our children following the fire incident at Hillside Endarasha Academy in the boys' dormitory, which housed 156 boys, is a catastrophe beyond our imagination," Mwaura said.

"It is truly devastating for the nation to lose such a number of young and promising Kenyans. Our hearts are heavy; our thoughts and prayers are with you and your families during this tragic moment," he added.

Authorities, including the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and a government pathologist, were on site to aid in the recovery of the bodies.

"Nineteen bodies have been recovered from the scene with the help of the DCI and the government pathologist," Mwaura added.

Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor announced that postmortems on the bodies of the victims would commence on Tuesday, September 10.

The bodies have been transferred to Naromoru Hospital for the procedure.

Speaking to the media in Nyeri County, Oduor explained that the bodies had been severely burnt, making identification difficult.

"Today we have concluded the process of recovering the bodies of those involved in this fire incident. We managed to recover 19 bodies which have been placed in body bags," Oduor said.

"They are to be taken to Naromoru Hospital so that we can begin the postmortem process. Looking at the bodies, they were severely burnt, which means that it is very difficult to identify the exact individuals," he added.

Investigation and Accountability

The cause of the fire remains unknown, but the government has assured the public that investigations are ongoing.

Government Spokesman Mwaura emphasised that all relevant agencies have been mobilised to conduct thorough investigations into the incident.

"Those found responsible will be brought to justice. The government is committed to ensuring accountability for every learner," he said.

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Health professionals are at the site to provide specialised care to the affected families, and efforts to support the victims' relatives are ongoing.

In addition, Mwaura expressed gratitude to the school community, neighbours, and all those who assisted during the crisis.

He urged residents who may have rescued or sheltered pupils to return them to the designated search and command centre to facilitate an accurate head count and ensure they receive psychological support.

"We thank Kenyans who have come forward to support the affected children during this difficult time. Your efforts have been invaluable," Mwaura added.