Hillside fire tragedy: Flags to be flown at half-mast as Ruto declares 3 days of mourning

President William Ruto has declared three days of national mourning to honour students who died after a fire razed down a dormitory at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County.

In a communique on Friday, Ruto said the country will honour the 17 pupils who tragically lost their lives in the incident.

"As a solemn testament to the indelible mark left upon the nation's consciousness by the spirits of the seventeen departed children, Kenya shall observe three days of national mourning," Ruto stated.

To honour the memory of the victims, the Head of State directed that the flags of the Republic of Kenya and the East African Community (EAC) be flown at half-mast during the period of mourning. The flags will be lowered from dawn on Monday, September 9, 2024, until sunset on Wednesday, September 11, 2024.

This directive applies to the State House, all Kenyan Diplomatic Missions, public buildings, public grounds, military bases, posts, stations, naval vessels, and throughout the entire country.

President Ruto further expressed his sorrow over the loss, calling it an “unfathomable tragedy” and extended his condolences to the families affected.

"We commit them to the love and grace of the Almighty, for only He can give them the strength and healing that they need in this darkest hour of their lives,” he stated.

According to the Head of State, the fire incident has left not only a scar on the families but also on the 14 survivors, who are receiving treatment in various hospitals for injuries sustained during the incident.

As a result, Ruto offered his wishes for their full recovery, adding that the “outpouring of grief across the country and beyond our borders reflects our shared humanity.”

However, the President condemned the cruel twist of fate that took the lives of children so young, calling the loss a source of “anger, bitterness, sorrow, and emptiness.”

He acknowledged that the lives lost were those of future great Kenyan adults, cut short before their time.

In addition, he assured the public that the government would take every possible action to safeguard the lives of school-going children.

"No child should lose their life in a place that is meant to be a safe haven for education, growth, and social development," Ruto stated.

In his pledge for justice and accountability, Ruto vowed that the difficult questions surrounding the tragedy, such as how the fire occurred and why the response was delayed, would be answered “fully, frankly, and without fear or favour.”

He also assured that all relevant individuals and authorities involved would be held to account.

The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the country. The search for missing students continues as the government and humanitarian agencies work tirelessly to account for those affected by the catastrophic inferno at the school in Nyeri.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki earlier revealed that forensic experts were at the scene gathering evidence to determine what led to the blaze.

“At this juncture, we cannot provide all the information the public is seeking… but we assure that forensic information is being collected, and we will get to the bottom of it. If anybody was culpable, they will be held to account,” he said.

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have also been deployed from Nairobi to assist in piecing together the events leading up to the fire.