What we know about missing Hillside Endarasha Academy pupils

Parents and guardians at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Kieni West, Nyeri, where 21 pupils died in a fire. [Kibata Kihu, Standard]

Despite government assurances that all 164 boys housed in the Hillside Endarasha dormitory, where a fire broke out last week, had been accounted for, speculation continues to spread on social media.

Kenyans are now questioning where the 70 learners, initially reported missing, were found and whether they are truly safe.

Investigations by The Standard now reveal that investigators have accounted for all the children, according to the lead investigator, Dr. Abraham Mugambi, who has been at the forefront of search and recovery efforts since the fire broke out on Thursday night, September 5.

“There’s a lot of propaganda, especially from social media, and unfortunately, some people want to discredit the government over a tragic incident. It’s unfair, especially as families are mourning,” said Mugambi.

On the night of the fire, Mugambi explained, some students panicked and fled across the fence. While some were sheltered by neighbors, others were picked up by their parents. These pupils had not been documented, which forced authorities to track them down.

DP Gachagua’s statement

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua addressed the nation on Friday, September 6, hours after the fatal tragedy, confirming that 70 learners were missing at the time. He urged parents to report any children they had taken home, stressing the need to account for all the students.

“When DP Gachagua spoke, we hadn’t yet reached many parents, so we couldn’t confirm that all students were accounted for. We were still in the process of tracking and speaking with the students and parents,” explained Mugambi.

By Monday this week, the lead investigator confirmed that they had established communication with parents and located all the students.

DCI’s position

In a statement on Thursday, September 11, the DCI reported that the boarding section housed 164 boys and 166 girls.

All the girls were safe and had been picked up by their parents. At the time of the fire, the boys' dormitory, the only one affected, housed 156 boys, as eight had not yet returned to school.

The DCI also noted that 140 boys were confirmed to be with their parents, including the eight who had not reported to school.

Tragically, 21 boys died in the fire—19 at the scene and two in the hospital. Three boys remain hospitalised.

“We’re confident that all students, except those hospitalised and those who sadly passed away, are safe. The community that sheltered the students and the parents who picked them up have confirmed their safety. Not a single child is missing,” he said.

DNA samples have been collected from the families of the deceased to match with the remains. Parents who lost their children will have to wait more than a month to bury them.

“We’ve collected DNA samples from all 21 families who lost children, including those who died in the hospital,” Mugambi added.

“It hasn’t been easy for investigators. When we see these social media reports, we go back to the records and question what we might have missed. But we dig deeper and consistently find the same results. We’ve now contacted all the parents.”

Concerns

But, questions still linger, as Kenyans pile pressure on the government to clarify its true position.  

On the fateful Friday, Police Spokesperson Resila Onyango confirmed that 14 learners sustained burns and were hospitalised. Days later, investigators said only five pupils were in hospital receiving treatment.

Other key questions raised on social media platforms include the whereabouts of the alleged missing pupils. Where were they?

Third, concerns on why no one has been held accountable to date are rife, although authorities say the probe into the fire could take long.

The DCI says it is continuing its investigation to determine the cause of the fire.