Hillside Academy fire victims to be honoured in joint memorial service

A memorial service for the 21 boys who lost their lives in the Hillside Endarasha Academy dormitory fire will be held next Wednesday, September 25, 2024.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has completed the identification of the victims through DNA matching, making the bodies ready for burial.

Acting Central Regional Commissioner Pius Murugu on Friday announced that the service will be held at Mweiga Stadium, organised by the County Disaster Committee.

Murugu said that some parents have expressed intentions to bury their children on the same day.

"We want to finish the memorial service by 11 am so that we can release the bodies to respective parents and relatives," he said.

He added that the service will be concise to allow families time for individual burials.

Murugu acknowledged that while many families may want to hold burials on the same day, some may need more time due to travel distances.

"That is why we are giving families time to discuss and decide whether they are ready to bury their loved ones on the same day," he said.

However, Murugu emphasised that the investigation into the cause of the fire is still ongoing.

"We are yet to get a report from the DCI as they are still taking witness statements. This will take some time, but we are grateful for the speed with which they have worked to ensure the bodies are released to the families," he said.

At the Naromoru Hospital Funeral Home, a DCI forensic official confirmed that all 21 families had viewed the bodies and confirmed the DNA results by Friday evening.

"However, none of the families have collected their loved ones; they are all waiting for the requiem church service slated for next week," the official said.

The Kenya Red Cross is providing pre- and post-mortem counselling to the affected families and will extend these services to the school community and first responders.

Esther Chege, Head of the Kenya Red Cross Central Region, stated that they are collaborating with Nyeri County's Department of Health and other partners to offer comprehensive counselling support.

Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga, who co-chairs the committee, stressed the importance of adhering to the schedule during the memorial service.

"The interdenominational service will run from 8:30 am to 11 am. We want to limit, as much as possible, unnecessary talk," he said.

The county boss also noted that the Naromoru Hospital Funeral Home will preserve the bodies at no extra cost for families unable to bury their loved ones on the same day.

Parent representatives present at the meeting expressed gratitude for the committee's management of the crisis.

Following the burials, the committee will focus on reopening the school to ensure that Grade Six candidates can participate in the upcoming Kenya Primary School Education. Assessment (KPSEA) national examinations.