Nyeri Diocese Catholic Archbishop Anthony Muheria has appealed to parents who picked up their children from the Hillside Endarasha Academy on Friday to make a report to the Red Cross and help the government account for the missing children.
“We appeal to the parents, in spite of the shock and trauma that you have experienced, heed to the government's call.
"Many parents picked their children from the Hillside Academy but have not yet informed authorities, some children are unaccounted for,” he said.
He spoke at Our Lady of Consolata Cathedral in Nyeri town on Sunday.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in his address at the school on Friday appealed to parents and members of Kabati village in Endarasha who gave refuge to pupils escaping the night inferno to make a report to the number 1199.
“I am appealing to every parent who took their child from school to report to the Red Cross and the school so that we know where that child is.
"We are asking community members who have given comfort to those children to report the same. That will help us to account for every child,” he said.
On Saturday government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura asked the media to desist from making conclusions about the number of fatalities and those missing from the tragedy.
He put the death toll from the inferno at 21 and said 19 bodies had been recovered from the scene with the help of the Directorate of Criminal Investigation officers and the government pathologist.
According to Mwaura, two additional deaths had occurred at the Kenyatta National Hospital and Mary Immaculate Hospital in Nyeri.
Nyeri Archbishop urged parents to present themselves and their children to the designated counselling centres for psychosocial support to help them cope with the traumatic events of the Thursday night tragedy.
The Archbishop joined other religious leaders in visiting the scene of the tragedy on Saturday and termed it as a terrible event.
In his condolence message, Archbishop Muheria asked Kenyans to avoid speculating about circumstances that could have led to the incident, instead unite in solidarity and prayers with the affected families.
“Beyond the experienced shock, solidarity in prayer should be the reaction. Let us take this moment to think and put ourselves in the shoes of those who are suffering as we cannot measure up to their pain,” he said.
