Nearly two years after the Hillside Endarasha Academy dormitory fire claimed the lives of 21 boys, affected families say they have been left to navigate grief, trauma and an unresolved search for justice with little support from the government.

The parents, who gathered in Nyeri on Friday, June 12, 2026, accused state agencies of failing to provide meaningful assistance despite assurances made in the aftermath of the September 2024 tragedy.

They said many families continue to face emotional, psychological and financial challenges while the circumstances surrounding the deadly fire remain unresolved.

“While the nation moved on, our lives changed forever. Many parents continue to struggle with profound grief, depression, anxiety, trauma and recurring memories of the night that took our children away,” Cyrus Chege said.

The families argued that the government’s response has fallen short of addressing the long-term effects of the tragedy on parents and siblings, adding that many households are still struggling with loss, yet no comprehensive programme has been established to support them.

“To date, there has been no sustained psychosocial support for affected families, no structured counselling, no long-term mental health support, and no dedicated government follow-up to help parents and siblings cope with the devastating loss,” Paul Gathogo, another parent, stated.

Their concerns have resurfaced following the recent fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, which claimed the lives of 16 learners and left others injured and which investigators linked to arson.

The incident, they said, reopened painful memories and raised fresh questions about whether lessons from previous school fires have been implemented.

“Parents have experienced serious health challenges linked to stress and trauma they continue to endure. Marriages and family relationships have been strained, and siblings continue to struggle with the loss of their brothers. Many families relive the events of September 5, 2024, every day,” Gathogo narrated.

Faulting the DPP

Beyond the emotional toll, the parents expressed frustration over what they described as slow progress in the public inquest into the Endarasha fire.

They accused the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) of failing to ensure witnesses attend court proceedings, contributing to delays that have prolonged their wait for answers.

“This is not simply a legal process. Behind every file is a child who never came home. Behind every court mention is a parent waiting for answers. And behind every delay is a family whose healing remains incomplete,” Ellen Ng’ari said.

The families are now calling for stronger accountability measures and faster implementation of school safety reforms to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in learning institutions across the country.

“No parent should receive the devastating news that their child has died in a preventable school incident. No parent should send their child to school only to receive their child’s remains,” Kiragu Muthoni said.

Their demands come amid renewed scrutiny of school safety standards following the Utumishi Girls fire, with the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) preparing legal action aimed at holding those responsible to account.

“We have the eight girls in remand, but the principal as well should be in remand. The matron, the night guard. Why are those people not held accountable?” Mary Kambo posed.