An interdenominational memorial service is currently being held at Mweiga Stadium in Kieni West to honor the 21 learners who tragically lost their lives in a fire incident at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri. The venue is located approximately 24 kilometers from the school, where the devastating fire occurred on September 6, gutting down a dormitory that housed 156 boys, leading to the loss of 21 young lives.
The memorial service takes place nearly a week after government pathologist Johansen Oduor confirmed that DNA samples from the victims had been successfully matched with their parents. “We have received the results of the 21 pupils who died in the tragedy, and they have positively matched with those of their parents,” Oduor stated.
At the service, 21 caskets, each bearing the remains of the deceased learners, are lined up, confronting families and friends with the heartbreaking reality of that tragic night. The atmosphere is heavy with sorrow as relatives, friends, and well-wishers mourn the loss, tears freely flowing as they struggle to come to terms with the tragedy.
To offer support to those attending, the Kenya Red Cross has set up multiple tents to provide physical and emotional assistance, while volunteers are on-site offering additional support.
The Disaster Management Committee is working closely with representatives of the victims’ parents and members of Endarasha Hillside Academy to coordinate the ongoing memorial service. Central Region Commissioner Pius Murugu confirmed that the service is set to conclude by 11:00 a.m., allowing the bereaved families to proceed with the burial of their loved ones at their final resting places.
While investigations into the cause of the tragic fire are still underway, reports suggest that the dormitory was infested with bed bugs. Students who spoke anonymously to *The Standard* revealed that when they returned to school after the August holiday, they found the dormitory overrun by bed bugs.
“Every time we come back from break, it’s hard to sleep for the first few days. We stay awake the whole night because of the itching,” the students explained. They added that they resorted to using candles at night to fend off the bed bugs, which typically hid in the cracks of the wooden beds.
