Hillside Endarasha fire culprit will be brought to book - CS Ogamba

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has committed to uncovering the cause of the Hillside Endarasha Academy fire that tragically claimed the lives of 21 pupils.

Speaking at a memorial service in Nyeri on Thursday, Ogamba emphasised that the loss of these young lives will not be in vain.

During the service, he read aloud the names of the 21 pupils, underscoring that they are not just statistics but cherished individuals whose memories must be honoured.

"We are keen to establish the cause of the tragedy that cost these young lives," Ogamba stated.

He reassured attendees that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is at the forefront of this investigation. Additionally, the Ministry of Education is conducting an audit to identify any lapses on the part of officials.

"I want to give the assurance that we will hold to account anybody found culpable for this incident," Ogamba added.

The CS acknowledged the deep shock and sorrow the incident has caused across the nation, particularly for the families of the deceased children. He described this as a challenging time for those affected.

"We are aware that this cannot wipe away your tears or take away the unimaginable pain of losing a loved one, especially at such a tender age when they were full of promise," he said.

In response to this tragedy, the government is providing ongoing support to the families as they lay their loved ones to rest.

Ogamba announced that a nationwide audit of all public and private boarding schools has been commissioned to assess compliance with safety regulations. He warned that schools failing to meet these standards would face consequences.

"Our goal is to ensure that parents, learners, and all stakeholders have confidence that our schools are not danger zones," he concluded.

Nine of the 21 pupils who perished will be laid to rest on Thursday (today).

Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga said the nine will be buried in their various homes after the memorial service.

Ten will be laid to rest on Friday with the remaining two being buried on Saturday.

"I would like to inform you that once we leave here, we will have burials in nine homes, we will do so for another 10 pupils and on Saturday we will finish with the remaining two," Kahiga said.

He said the committee which has been in charge since the tragedy occurred on September 5 will be holding their final meeting on Monday.