Questions Over Missing School Official at Hillside Endarasha as DCI Narrows Down to 3 Main Leads
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) are intensifying their probe into the circumstances surrounding the tragic fire that engulfed the boys’ dormitory at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri, leaving 21 students dead.
Central to the investigation is the role of a matron who was mysteriously absent from the dormitory on the night of the fire.
Investigators are focusing on three critical leads, including the matron’s unexplained absence, the building’s structural integrity, and the possibility of an electrical fault. The DCI is questioning why the matron, who was responsible for the well-being of the boys, was not present during the incident, raising concerns about her whereabouts and duties on that fateful night.
Why it matters: Kenyans have been demanding answers as to what caused the fire, and whether it was an incident of negligence or arson. This comes as a trend of school fires has engulfed the country in this third term, exposing the underbelly of poor infrastructure and indiscipline in the building of school dormitories and classes across the country.
Part of a dormitory is seen following a fire at the Hillside Endarasha Primary in Nyeri,6 September 2024.
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Dig deeper: Sources close to the investigation reveal that detectives are working to establish if her absence was linked to an accident she reportedly had, preventing her from reporting to work. However, conflicting reports have cast doubt on whether she had officially communicated her inability to perform her duties that evening.
Additionally, investigators are scrutinising the dormitory’s structural composition. The DCI has demanded an explanation from the academy’s proprietor regarding the use of substandard materials in constructing the boys’ dormitory. Initial findings suggest that the dormitory was made predominantly from iron sheets and wood, which may have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. Questions also arise about the school’s security measures, with the metallic doors meant to secure students turning into death traps when the fire broke out.
Disturbing images from inside the charred dormitory seen by Kenyans.co.ke depict the full fury of the blaze. The shattered windows, bent metal frames, and scorched beds highlight the desperate struggle of the boys as they fought to escape the inferno. The girls’ dormitory, located adjacent to the boys’ facility, shared a similar wooden structure, which has now drawn heightened concerns from parents and guardians about safety.
The DCI is also exploring the possibility that an electrical malfunction could have been triggered while someone attempted to turn off the lights at the main meter. Investigators are keen to determine whether this may have sparked the deadly fire. One lingering question is whether the matron, had she been present, would have been responsible for supervising the lights-off routine that night.
What next: Meanwhile, a section of aggrieved parents is planning demonstrations at the institution, demanding answers about the fire and accountability from school authorities. Many feel that the loss of young lives could have been prevented with better safety protocols and oversight.
The fire, which occurred on the night of Thursday, September 5, has left the school and local community in shock. The dormitory housed 156 boys at the time, with 19 bodies recovered from the scene, and two more boys succumbing to injuries in hospital. Forensic experts, led by the DCI’s Homicide Directorate, have been combing through the debris to uncover what might have ignited the blaze.
Director of Criminal Investigations Abraham Mugambi has assured the public that the investigation is progressing swiftly, with forensic teams working closely with other stakeholders. “We are determined to find out what led to this tragic incident,” Mugambi stated in a statement, adding that DNA samples have been collected from the families of the deceased to aid in identifying the remains.
As investigators seek answers, the focus is also on the role of school management in ensuring student safety. The fact that the boys’ dormitory was constructed with highly flammable materials has raised concerns about negligence.
This tragedy, parents argue, could be a wake-up call for schools across the country to revisit safety standards and ensure that such an incident never happens again.
Autopsies on the victims are scheduled for Thursday, September 12, with the DCI expected to provide a comprehensive report once the forensic examination is complete.
Education CS Julius Migos speaking at ICP World Convention hosted by KESSHA, August 20, 2024.
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EduMin
