Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has revealed that 86 pupils from Hillside Endarasha School in Nyeri have been accounted for after the night fire incident that left at least 18 dead.
Speaking during his visit to the school on Friday afternoon, the DP further revealed that 70 pupils had not been accounted for while 37 have been reunited with their parents.
In his address to the media, Gachagua appealed to parents to remain calm while calling on those who took their children from the school premises to report to the government so as to account for their whereabouts.
Parents with missing children were advised to provide information by contacting the Red Cross through the number 1199.
“What could have gone wrong, but I would want at this situation, not to have any guesswork, not to impute any improper motive, we just let the investigation agencies to do their work,” the DP said.
“So, I want to say in this very difficult time, as I said, condolences on behalf of the president, to the bereaved families and to the people of Kenya, I want to ask for patience so that the families can have peace.”
Gachagua Meets Parents of the Victims
The DP said that the government will assist the parents in every possible way, to bury their loved ones.
“We’ll assist in terms of hospital management, in terms of hospital bills. The government, the president has committed and that is the message that I bring from him, to help this families.”
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“This is an ongoing exercise that will take a number of days, and we want to ask for patience from everybody so that we give the right information and as I have committed, once the investigations are concluded, we’ll make them public so that everybody is aware. “
Gachagua also met with the parents and interacted with them through songs and prayers in a bid to condole with them.
He added that the ministry of health, the state department of public health has assembled a team of psychologists and counselors to give support.
Hillside Endarasha Fire That Claimed 18
Preliminary reports indicated that the pupils were burnt beyond recognition after one of the dormitories housing the students was razed down.
National Police Service (NPS) Spokesperson Dr. Resila Onyango confirmed the incident to The Kenya Times on Friday, September 6 morning.
Twenty-seven (27) other pupils are currently hospitalized with serious burns.
According to the report, 15 of them died at the scene while one died while being rushed to the hospital with more two pupils succumbing to the injuries while receiving treatment, pushing the death toll to 18.
Also Read: Uhuru Breaks Silence, Sends Emotional Message to Families of Fire Victims
Details of the School
Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang in a statement revealed details of the Endarasha Hillside School while confirming that the incident claimed the lives of 17 learners and left fourteen others injured.
PS Kipsang said that he is currently on the ground leading the local multi-agency team to manage the situation.
The PS added that the school has a total enrolment of 824 comprised of 402 boys and 422 girls.
Of the total enrolment of 824 learners, 156 boys and 160 girls are boarders while the rest are day scholars. All the 156 boys’ boarders were accommodated in the ill-fated dormitory.
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