Interior Cabinet Secretary Abrahama Kindure Kindiki has come out to clarify the government’s directive to parents of students at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County to return their children to school following the fire incident that has so far claimed 17 lives.

Speaking on Friday, September 6, 2024, after landing at the institution, Kindiki explained that the reason for asking the parents and other people holding the students from that school to return them was for accountability purposes.

Kindiki, whose ministry is coordinating the rescue and other mitigation exercises following the fire tragedy, explained to the media that it would be hard to give a full account of what transpired without knowing where the other students are.

Besides accountability, Kindiki added that the students need to receive medical support and psychological counselling.

“The appeal is that anybody with a child from this school outside there to produce that child… avail that child for counselling, for help and for accountability even as we reconcile and provide accurate, verifiable information in the shortest time possible,” Kindiki requested

“Please, be patient with us, we would like to tell you everything that you need to know now but we don’t want to tell you things are either not accurate, incorrect or that are not verifiable,” he added while terming the fire incident as a matter of national security.

Ruto’s order

At the same time, Kindiki told the country that President William Ruto who is in China, had ordered for a multi-agency operation to establish what caused the fire.

He further revealed that the Head of State had asked all ministries to offer any needed support to the families of the victims.

“Following the directive by President William Ruto earlier today, all relevant Government agencies have been deployed and instructed to mobilise every possible support and assistance to the affected families as they mourn and seek the truth on what caused the fire leading to the loss and injury of so many young souls.

“The Government assures full accountability for all whose action or inaction contributed to this tremendous loss,” Kindiki insisted.

With Ruto’s order in place, Kindiki vowed to pitch camp at the institution to find the required answers.

Kindiki’s explanation comes minutes after Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang directed those who may have picked up their children from the school to return them and members of the community who offered help during the emergency to come forward.

“We are trying to account for every child. We are asking parents who may have picked their children and members of the community who may have assisted last night in the hillside academy that was burnt, to help account for them,” the PS said.

“The aim is to ensure that all students are accounted for and to aid in the ongoing response to the tragedy,” he added.

Hillside Endarasha tragedy

Dr. Belio Kipsang – Education PS: We are trying to account for every child. We are asking parents who may have picked their children and members of the community who may have assisted last night, to help account for them#K24Mchipuko pic.twitter.com/YrMsmVfYdp

— K24 TV (@K24Tv) September 6, 2024

Belio who visited Hillside Endarasha Academy following the tragedy said it had an enrolment of 824 learners. The dormitory which was burnt down had a capacity of 156 students, Belio further claimed.

Acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli has so far announced that investigations have been launched into the fire incident.