DPP orders Police IG to investigate Hillside Endarasha Academy fire tragedy

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga has ordered the Inspector General of Police to launch investigations into the cause of the fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy that led to the death of 18 pupils and injured over 27 others.

DPP Ingonga, in a statement release on Saturday, directed the IG to swing into action to determine the circumstances leading to the fire and whether or not there was foul play.

The IG is then required to submit the enquiry file to the DPP so that charges can be brought against any person found culpable.

“In line with the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, which guarantees every child's right to education, safety, and protection from all forms of harm, the DPP has directed the Inspector General of Police to conduct a thorough and comprehensive investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the deadly fire and assess whether or not the tragedy may have resulted from negligence and/or recklessness of any responsibility holders, and to forward the file to the DPP for a review towards making the decision to charge,” read the statement.

The DPP further assured the public that perpetrators of the dreadful incident would face the law.

“The DPP assures the public that any person found culpable towards the fire tragedy shall be expediently taken through the due process of criminal trial,” the statement added.

“The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) remains committed to executing its constitutional mandate in accordance with the rule of law.”

In his message of condolence to the bereaved families, the DPP underscored the importance of institutions adhering to safety protocols as stipulated in the law.

He consequently urged educational stakeholders to prioritise the safety of the students in a bid to avert similar strategies.

“The DPP expresses his deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the victims of the tragedy, and wishes a quick recovery to all students who sustained burn injuries,” noted the statement.

“Unfortunately, this tragedy evokes bad memories of other similar school fire incidents which many times point to negligence and a failure by responsibility holders to both only prioritize the safety of our young children at school, but to also ensure that there is compliance with the safety protocols under the relevant Statutes including the Basic Education Act, the Children's Act, and the Safety Standards Manual for Schools, which set out the safety and protection measures that all educational institutions must adhere to.”

President William Ruto has since declared a three-day period of national mourning following the dormitory fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County.

Ruto, in a presidential proclamation on Friday evening, stated that the three days will begin at dawn on Monday, September 9, to sunset on Wednesday, September11, 2024.

The Head of State directed that during this period, the Kenyan and East African Community flags be flown at half-mast across the country.