- This is after a dormitory in the Hillside Endarasha Academy claimed the lives of 21 pupils on September 6, 2024.
- Kinyua said the move will help to create space in the school to accommodate the pupils.
Image: FILE
The owner and director of Hillside Endarasha Academy director David Kinyua has said the school will reduce the number of boarders.
This is after a dormitory in the Hillside Endarasha Academy claimed the lives of 21 pupils on September 6, 2024.
Kinyua said the move will help to create space in the school to accommodate the pupils.
According to him, the number of borders will reduce from 330 to 195 pupils.
Speaking on Tuesday, Kinyua said he is saddened by the fire tragedy that killed 21 pupils at the school.
"We do not have enough room for the borders, those pupils who are near the school will be day scholars so that we can afford to accommodate few boys. So far, we have 87 boys who are borders and 98 girls who will be borders, the rest will be day scholars," he said.
"Before they were 164 boys and 166 girls."
He revealed that parents and education officers have been invited for a meeting and prayers from the Church.
"We have been allowed to start the repairs and we are trying to do that on time. We have removed the dormitory where it was and changed the paths leading to the dormitory that was razed by fire so that they can't suffer trauma," Kinyua added.
The director said they have a committee responsible for the children who lost their items in the fire tragedy.
He said they also got a lot of help from well-wishers who offered to assist the children affected during the fire tragedy.
"The affected children will not buy anything. They will get all the essentials they need. The well-wishers are willing to support them," Kinyua said.
“This tragedy has saddened me. I was with them for 13 years and I did not expect this at any point,” Kinyua said in a video seen by the Star.
“I have been affected by what happened. I request everyone to help us with prayers and ask God to help us heal soon."
The Hillside Endarasha Academy tragedy sparked debate in the country on whether the country should abolish boarding schools or not.
Last week, Government spokesman Issac Mwaura said all the learners affected by the fire incident had been accounted for.
“All girls are at home with their parents while all the 164 boys have been accounted for,” he stated.
Mwaura termed the tragic loss of the 21 pupils as a catastrophe beyond imagination.
“Two of the boys died in the hospital while undergoing treatment and 19 other bodies were recovered from the burnt dormitory,” he said.