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Two of the male pupils who survived the tragedy are still recuperating at the hospital.
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Murugu at the same time reaffirmed the government’s support for all the affected families and pupils who lost their personal belongings.
Image: WANGARE MWANGI/ KNA
A memorial mass service in honour of the 21 victims of the Hillside Endarasha Academy fire has been scheduled for next week before the bodies are handed over to their respective families for burial.
The service to be held at Mweiga stadium in Nyeri is being organised jointly by both the national and county alongside their families and the church leaders.
Nyeri acting regional commissioner Pius Murugu said they expect the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to conclude the process early next week to pave the way for the service.
“By next week we shall be able to conclude the burial arrangements so that after this we can now see how the school will be reopened..of course, in consultation with the administration, parents and other stakeholders who are involved,” said Murugu.
The investigation into the tragic fire which has been ongoing since the fire broke out on the night of September 5 has been concluded with various matter individuals having been questioned.
The school had been declared a crime scene.
DCI has been leading the probe and a preliminary report is set to be released later this week ahead of the planned reopening of the school.
Two of the male pupils who survived the tragedy are still recuperating at the hospital.
Murugu at the same time reaffirmed the government’s support for all the affected families and pupils who lost their personal belongings.
The owner and director of the school David Kinyua said Tuesday the school will reduce the number of boarders from 330 to 195.
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.
"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.
Kinyua further stated that he is saddened by the fire tragedy that killed 21 pupils at the school.
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.
Meanwhile, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba is expected to appear before the National Assembly plenary today afternoon.
He is set to address issues of concern in the education sector including incidents of school fires and unrest across the country, and the general safety of learners.
This is mainly on the tragic incident at the Hillside Academy.
"This incident represents a tragic loss to the nation and the House must be fully apprised of its cause and the remedial measures proposed to be taken by the Ministry," National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula said.
He will also give a progress report in implementing the commitments made during the Member's Kamukunji held on August 20, 2024, regarding the New Higher Education Funding Model, said Wetangula.