Mombasa initiates safety assessment exercise on all schools after Hillside fire tragedy

Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir. PHOTO/@A_S_Nassir/X
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Mombasa county will on Monday, September 9, 2024, initiate a free fire and safety assessment exercise covering all schools.

This follows the Hillside Endarasha fire tragedy that claimed the lives of at least 17 pupils, with reports indicating a possible rise in the number as several other pupils cannot be accounted for.

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Mombasa universities to benefit

Taking to his official X account on the evening of Saturday, September 7, 2024, Mombasa governor Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir said the assessment will cover all private and public Early Childhood Development Education Centres (ECDEs), primary and secondary schools, as well as universities.

Mombasa governor Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir speaking during the conclusion of the Seventh Day Adventist camp week at Tononoka Grounds, Mvita Sub-County on Saturday, September 7, 2024. PHOTO/@A_S_Nassir/X

Governor Abdulswamad who had also spoken during the conclusion of the Seventh Day Adventist camp week in Tononoka Grounds, Mvita Sub-County, said the exercise will help identify any gaps in fire and safety in learning institutions.

Mombasa school operators trained

The coastal county will also use the opportunity to offer basic fire safety training to those operating schools.

“Beginning Monday, the County Government will initiate a fire and safety assessment exercise covering all private and public ECDs, primary and secondary schools as well as universities free of charge.

“The exercise is intended to identify any gaps in fire and safety in learning institutions. We will also offer basic fire safety training to those operating schools. Spoke at the conclusion of the Seventh Day Adventist camp week in Tononoka Grounds, Mvita Sub-County,” the Mombasa county chief wrote on X.

Hillside Endarasha fire tragedy

On Friday, September 6, 2024, the nation woke up the shocking news of pupils who had lost their lives in the fire tragedy at the Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County.

READ ALSO  KNUT mourns 17 children killed in Hillside Endarasha fire tragedy

Seventeen pupils were confirmed dead following the inferno that occurred in the boys dormitory that had housed 156 boys.

Parents at Hillside Endarasha Academy on Friday, September 6, 2024, after the night inferno that claimed 17 lives. PHOTO/Loise Wambugu
Parents at Hillside Endarasha Academy on Friday, September 6, 2024, after the night inferno that claimed 17 lives. PHOTO/Loise Wambugu

According to Nyeri County Commissioner Pius Mirigu, the fire was reported at 11 pm on Thursday, September 5, 2024, and was contained at 3 am as the emergency teams were mobilised.

The numbers of those who lost their lives had risen to 21 as at Saturday evening, which is expected to soar further as several other pupils cannot be accounted for.