President William Ruto has announced a three-day national mourning period in response to the tragic dormitory fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County, which resulted in the deaths of 17 pupils.
In a presidential proclamation issued on Friday evening, Ruto specified that the mourning period will commence at dawn on Monday, September 9, and continue until sunset on Wednesday, September 11, 2024. During this time, the Kenyan and East African Community flags will be flown at half-mast nationwide.
“In deep sympathy and honour of the memory of these innocent lives lost and those who were injured in this tragedy, I, William Samoei Ruto, under the authority vested in me as President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, do hereby order and direct that, as a solemn testament to the indelible mark left upon the nation’s consciousness by the spirits of the seventeen departed children, Kenya shall observe a three-day period of national mourning,” read the proclamation.
“During this period of national mourning, the Flag of the Republic of Kenya and that of the East African Community (EAC) shall be flown at half-mast at State House, all Kenyan Page 3 of 3 Diplomatic Missions, Public Buildings, Public Grounds, all Military Bases, Posts, Stations, all Naval Vessels of the Republic of Kenya, and throughout the entire territory of the Republic of Kenya, from dawn Monday, 9th September 2024 until sunset on Wednesday, 11th September 2024.”
The President conveyed the nation’s deep sorrow, offering heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their children in the tragic fire.
He recognized the immense grief of losing such young lives, aged between 9 and 13 and in grades 4 to 8, and acknowledged the profound sense of anger and emptiness that accompanies such a tragedy. Ruto also highlighted that 14 other boys who survived the blaze are receiving medical treatment for their injuries, assuring their families that all available public medical resources are being utilized to support their full recovery.
“This incident compels us to ensure accountability in all schools across the country and to take every action we can to safeguard the lives of our school-going children. No child should lose their life in a place that is meant to be a safe haven for education, growth, and social development,” he stated.
“I assure all the affected families that every public medical resource is at their disposal to ensure that all injured children receive the highest level of care. As your President, I pledge that the difficult questions that have been asked such as how this tragedy occurred and why the response was not timely will be answered; fully, frankly, and without fear or favour.”
