Kenya declares three days of mourning to honour 17 pupils killed in fire
National
By
Esther Nyambura
| Sep 06, 2024
President William Ruto has declared three days of national mourning in honor of the 17 pupils who tragically lost their lives in a dormitory fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County.
During this period, both the Kenyan flag and that of the East African Community will be flown at half-mast across the country.
"In deep sympathy and in honor of the memory of these innocent lives lost and those who were injured in this tragedy, I, William Samoei Ruto, order and direct that Kenya shall observe a three-day period of national mourning," the President stated.
The President also assured the affected families that all public medical resources will be made available to ensure the injured pupils receive the highest level of care.
He further vowed that those responsible for fire safety and emergency response will be held accountable, stressing that such a catastrophe must never occur again.
Ruto described the deaths of the 17 children as an "unfathomable tragedy," leading the nation in mourning their loss.