The DPP joined Kenyans in sharing the sorrow and pain resulting from the devastating fire tragedy at the educational institution.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga has directed acting Inspector General of Police, Gilbert Masengeli to carry out thorough investigations into the tragic fire that engulfed Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County, claiming the lives of 18 students.
In a statement issued by his office, the DPP joined Kenyans in sharing the sorrow and pain resulting from the devastating fire tragedy at the educational institution.
Other than the lost lives, the tragedy has left at least 14 others injured, and 70 students reportedly remaining unaccounted for, intensifying fears that the death toll could rise.
Renson Mulele Ingonga takes his oath of office as the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) at State House, Nairobi on September 25, 2023. /PCS
“The DPP expresses his deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the victims of the tragedy, and wishes a quick recovery to all students who sustained burn injuries,” the statement read in part.
According to Ingonga, the tragedy evokes bad memories of other similar school fire incidents which many times, in his view, point to negligence and a failure by responsibility holders to prioritize the safety of the country’s young children at school,
It also pointed out a failure to ensure that there is compliance with the safety protocols under the relevant Statutes including the Basic Education Act, the Children’s Act, and the Safety Standards Manual for Schools, which set out the safety and protection measures that all educational institutions must adhere to.
“In line with the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, which guarantees every child’s right to education, safety, and protection from all forms of harm, the DPP has directed the Inspector General of Police to conduct a thorough and comprehensive investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the deadly fire,” Ingonga directed.
Acting IG Masengeli wa also directed to assess whether or not the tragedy may have resulted from negligence and/or recklessness of any responsibility holders, and to forward the file to the DPP for a review towards deciding to charge.
The DPP assured the public that any person found culpable towards the fire tragedy would be expediently taken through the due process of a criminal trial.
President William Ruto earlier directed a thorough investigation to be conducted to ascertain the cause of the inferno, committing that those responsible will be held to account.
The president further condoled with the families of the pupils who lost their lives and wished a speedy recovery to those who sustained injuries.
“Our thoughts are with the families of the children who have lost their lives in the fire tragedy at the Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County. This is devastating news. We pray for a speedy recovery for the survivors. I instruct relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate this horrific incident. Those responsible will be held to account,” Ruto remarked.
He added that the government, through the Ministry of Interior, would mobilise all the necessary resources to support the affected families.
Before the inferno incident, the school had a total enrolment of 824. Of these, 402 were boys while 422 were girls, further broken down to 156 boys and 160 girls being boarders while the rest were day scholars. All the 156 boys boarders were accommodated in the ill-fated dormitory.
Scene at Hillside Endarasha Academy following a fire tragedy on September 6, 2024. /FACEBOOK
