Anguish as parents attend prayers for Endarasha Academy fire victims

Emotions ran high Sunday during interdenominational prayers for the students killed in the fire tragedy at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri county.

The prayers that were led by Rev. Thegu Mutahi, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) brought together parents and survivors of the inferno that gutted a dormitory that housed 156 boys.

Parents fainted while others cried uncontrollably during the prayer session as Kenya Red Cross officers and Nyeri County Health workers moved swiftly to offer support. The health workers would transfer them to another tent.

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Government delegation led by Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa and the political class led by Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga attended the prayers where they delivered condoled with the families.

Barasa urged members of the community who are largely parents at Hillside Academy to take advantage of the counselling services.

"This is not just a one-off, but routinely talk to them because mental health is a challenge, especially during moments of disaster," she said.

She said the Ministry had deployed commodities, including mass casualty kits, complete trauma kits as well as response bags to cater for more than 200 casualties.

"I'm happy to hear that partners are here and they have also supported in mobilisation of resources. We have Red Cross. Amref, WHO among others and the forensic team that is supporting in recovery and identification of bodies," she said.

She committed to work with the National Government Administration Officers (Ngao) and other organs such as the National Disaster Operation Center to build capacity in the area to fight and support emergency disaster preparedness.

"From my office, we observe the issue of mental health and psychosocial support in the country and especially among school-going children. We shall look into policies that will address that as well as strengthen the public health inspections, especially in schools to endure that such events don't happen again," she said.

The political class, called for speedy re-opening of the school to allow KCPE candidates to prepare adequately for the exams.

Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro contributed Sh500,000 to aid in the reconstruction of the school and called on leaders to offer support.

"Although this is a private school, we take cognizant that most of the neighborhood are from this community therefore we call on leaders to support the school so that it can stand on its feet and allow the candidates prepare for the exams," Nyoro said.

Area MP Njoroge Wainaina directed his Constituency Development Chairperson to supervise the repair of the school within 21 days.

"I will also chip in and use my personal finance to support the school," he said.

Parents who talked to The Standard praised the school terming it as the village's pride due to its excellent performance.

"We can't blame the proprietor, he loved and connected well with parents, the school is cheaper but performs well and he usually listens to parents whenever they seek pardon for lack of school fees," John Kamanja a parent said.

The PCEA moderator called on the government to address the infrastructure in the area which he said delayed efforts to extinguish the fire.

"The government must also address congestion in dormitories in public schools. We must have more dormitories in schools so that the recommended spacing can be observed," Rev Mutahi said.

"We are making so much pressure to principals since we want more students admitted to schools but we don't have the spaces," he added.

As the prayers continued, outside the school compound, detectives from the Homicide department were busy documenting and analysing the crime scene even as teaching and non teaching staff were interrogated inside the school.

Workers of the school's proprietor who lives in the neighborhood were interrogated by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.

Central Region Coordinator Pius Murugu told congregants that the bodies were burnt beyond recognition.

The 19 bodies of the pupils who perished at the school were transferred to Narumoru morgue.

Workers at the morgue were rushing against time to complete work, set up a gazebo, clear the construction materials and erect tents.