Chief government pathologist Johansen Oduor on Wednesday announced the completion of DNA tests on the 21 pupils who died at the Hillside Endarasha Fire Tragedy.
Speaking to journalists at the Naromoru Hospital in Nyeri, Oduor revealed that the process of contacting the respective parents had already commenced.
According to the pathologist, a team consisting of officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and counsellors had been dispatched to help in releasing the bodies to the parents.
“We have the pleasure to announce that we have received the results of the DNA of 21 Endarasha academy victims, and all of them have been identified,” Oduor announced.
Office Block of Hillside Endarasha Academy.
Photo
“We are in the process of contacting the parents and we have a team of DCI and chancellors to help in that.”
Oduor further announced that once all the bodies were released, the government would then chip in to cater for the victims’ burials.
The revelations come days after the government gave the greenlight for the learning institution to be reopened.
While announcing the reopening, the committee formed to investigate the tragedy recommended a reduction in the number of boarders to facilitate decongestion.
The announcement was also made after DCI officers probing the fire tragedy handed over the school to the board of management for reconstruction.
Meanwhile, the school owner, David Kinyua noted that once the school is reopened, all the parents would be recalled for a prayer meeting during which they are expected to discuss the way forward.
According to Kinyua, the dormitory which burned down will not be renovated, instead, another one will be constructed.
“We have planned how the pupils will be given everything. From the mattress, box, uniform, and shoes, so the children will come the way they left,” said Kinyua.
David Kinyua, the Director of the Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri
Photo
