DNA testing is set to begin in Kenya on Monday to identify the young victims of a devastating school dormitory fire that claimed 21 lives at the Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County last week. The tragedy, which has prompted a national reflection on safety standards in schools, occurred late Thursday night as students slept.
Nineteen bodies were recovered from the ruins of the dormitory, while two children succumbed to their injuries in hospital. However, 17 more are still missing, with many of the bodies burned beyond recognition. Government spokesman Isaac Mwaura confirmed that the victims, aged between 9 and 13, were among those awaiting identification.
Nyeri County Commissioner Pius Murigu urged affected families to gather at Naromoru Hospital on Monday to participate in the forensic process, while Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor announced postmortems would commence on Tuesday.
President William Ruto declared three days of mourning in honor of the victims, with flags flying at half-mast across the nation. “This tragedy compels us to ensure accountability in all schools and safeguard the lives of our children,” he stated.
The fire has renewed concerns about safety in Kenyan schools, particularly overcrowding and inadequate safety measures. The National Gender and Equality Commission and NGO Vocal Africa expressed alarm, with reports indicating that the Endarasha dormitory was overcrowded.
Further fires over the weekend, at Isiolo Girls High School and Njia Boys High School, have underscored the urgency of addressing safety lapses. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Renson Ingonga, has called for an investigation into whether negligence contributed to the Hillside Endarasha fire, which echoes several similar incidents in the past.
