DCI investigates Hillside Endarasha Academy fire

Crime scene investigators gather at the Nyeri county's Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri county on September 6, 2024. [AFP]

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has launched an investigation into a fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri that claimed 21 lives.

The incident occurred on the night of Thursday, September 5.

Director of Criminal Investigations Abraham Mugambi, in a statement on Wednesday, September 11, said forensic teams and experts from the Homicide Directorate are examining the scene.

"We are working closely with various stakeholders to determine what led to this tragic incident," Mugambi said.

The academy had 330 boarders, including 166 girls and 164 boys. On the night of the fire, 156 boys were in the dormitory. Two of the five boys admitted to hospital have died from their injuries, with the remains of 19 boys recovered from the dormitory.

Mugambi noted that DNA samples from victims' families have been collected for identification, as the bodies were severely burned. Autopsies are scheduled for Tuesday, September 22.

The DCI is coordinating with the Central Region Disaster Management Committee, fire safety experts, and other relevant authorities to investigate possible negligence or other contributing factors.

This investigation follows Kenya Power's finding that no fault in the electrical network contributed to the fire, as claimed by some media outlets. Duncan Machuka, Kenya Power Business Manager for Nyeri County, led the investigation and confirmed that the company's installations, including meters, cables, and transformers, were unaffected.

"Our team immediately switched off power to the school as a precaution. Preliminary analysis shows that supply was stable with no incidents reported at the time," Machuka said on Tuesday, September 10.

"Two prepaid meters in the school and nearby customers using the same transformer were not impacted," he added.