In a hurry? Here’s a quick summary…
- President William Ruto declared a three-day national mourning period following a dormitory fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy, which claimed 18 pupils’ lives.
- He pledged full accountability and assured that public medical resources are being used to treat the 14 survivors.
President William Ruto has declared a three-day period of national mourning following a tragic dormitory fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County, which claimed the lives of 18 pupils.
The President, in a proclamation issued on Friday evening, announced that the mourning period will begin at dawn on Monday, September 9, and end at sunset on Wednesday, September 11, 2024.
During this time, the Kenyan and East African Community flags will be flown at half-mast across the country.
In his statement, President Ruto expressed deep sympathy for the loss of the young lives and those injured in the tragedy.
He directed that flags be lowered at State House, all public buildings, diplomatic missions, military bases, and naval vessels across the country.
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“In memory of these innocent lives, I hereby declare a three-day period of national mourning,” read the proclamation.
The President extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, acknowledging the immense pain of losing children aged between 9 and 13, who were in grades 4 to 8.
He described the grief as a profound sense of anger and emptiness, and assured the families that 14 boys who survived the fire are receiving treatment, with all public medical resources committed to their recovery.
President Ruto emphasized the need for accountability in schools to ensure the safety of students.
“This incident compels us to ensure no child loses their life in a place meant to be a safe haven for education and growth,” he stated, pledging that questions surrounding the tragedy will be answered fully and without fear.
He vowed that those responsible will be held to account to prevent such a disaster from happening again.