Hillside Academy fire: PS Belio urges parents to return picked pupils

Education PS Belio Kipsang has appealed for assistance in accounting for all pupils affected by the fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County.

The tragic incident which occurred last night, resulted in the loss of 17 lives.

The PS urged parents who may have picked up their children from the school to return them and members of the community who offered help during the emergency to come forward.

"We are trying to account for every child. We are asking parents who may have picked their children and members of the community who may have assisted last night in the hillside academy that was burnt, to help account for them," The PS said.

Kipsang's appeal comes as authorities work to put together information and provide support to affected families.

"The aim is to ensure that all students are accounted for and to aid in the ongoing response to the tragedy."

Belio who visited the school following the tragedy said it had an enrolment of 824 learners.

The ill-fated dormitory that killed 17 pupils at the school had 156 boys.

He said the learners include 402 boys and 422 girls.

"Of the total enrollment of 824 learners, 156 boys and 160 girls are boarders while the rest are day scholars. All the 156 boys were accommodated in the ill-fated dormitory,” PS Belio said.

Belio also said the Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba who was on a trip to China is on his way back to join the local teams in addressing the situation.

The tragic fire incident left 14 other pupils injured.

The Kenya Red Cross has established a tracing desk at the school to help in tracing the learners.

KRCS head in Mt Kenya Esther Chege, Redcross said the desk will help parents in identifying their children.

“In the tracing desk, we will be able to get all their details including those in hospital so that we can advise on how to access them,” she said.