The dormitory at Hillside Endarsha Academy in Nyeri County, which tragically burned down on September 6, 2024, killing 21 students, was infested with bed bugs, it has been revealed.
Students who spoke anonymously to *The Standard* reported that upon returning to school after the August holiday, they discovered the dormitory was overrun by bed bugs.
“When we reopened the school on September 2, 2024, we had a tough time trying to sleep because of the bed bugs that kept biting us,” the students said. “For the first few nights, it was unbearable; we stayed awake the whole night due to the itching.”
The learners added that they resorted to using candles at night to deter the bed bugs, which tended to hide in the cracks of their wooden beds. They had asked the school management to find a lasting solution to the problem.
While it is not yet confirmed whether the bed bug infestation was directly related to the fire, which occurred on September 6, 2024, homicide detectives are investigating the incident.
This development comes amid concerns about the whereabouts of 70 students who are reported to be missing.
Despite the government’s assurance that all 164 students housed in the dormitory had been accounted for, there is ongoing concern on social media about whether the 70 missing students have been reunited with their families.
Dr. Abraham Mugambi, the lead investigator, explained that during the fire, some students panicked and fled over the fence.
“Some of these students were taken in by neighbors, while others were picked up by their parents,” Dr. Mugambi said. “Because these pupils had not been documented, authorities have had to track them down to ensure their safety and reunite them with their families.”
