Ruto declares three days of national mourning after Hillside Endarasha Academy fire tragedy

President William Ruto has declared a three-day period of national mourning following a dormitory fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County that claimed the lives of 18 pupils.

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.

“In deep sympathy and honour of the memory of these innocent lives lost and those who were injured in this tragedy, I, William Samoei Ruto, under the authority vested in me as President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, do hereby order and direct that, as a solemn testament to the indelible mark left upon the nation's consciousness by the spirits of the seventeen departed children, Kenya shall observe a three-day period of national mourning,” read the proclamation.

“During this period of national mourning, the Flag of the Republic of Kenya and that of the East African Community (EAC) shall be flown at half-mast at State House, all Kenyan Page 3 of 3 Diplomatic Missions, Public Buildings, Public Grounds, all Military Bases, Posts, Stations, all Naval Vessels of the Republic of Kenya, and throughout the entire territory of the Republic of Kenya, from dawn Monday, 9th September 2024 until sunset on Wednesday, 11th September 2024.”

The President expressed the collective heartache of the nation, extending his deepest condolences to the families who lost their children in the fire.

He acknowledged the profound pain of losing children so young, between the ages of 9 and 13 and grades 4 to 8, noting the unique sense of anger and emptiness that such a tragedy evokes.

Ruto noted that 14 other boys who survived the blaze are currently receiving treatment for their injuries, further assuring their families that all available public medical resources are being deployed to ensure their full recovery.

“This incident compels us to ensure accountability in all schools across the country and to take every action we can to safeguard the lives of our school-going children. No child should lose their life in a place that is meant to be a safe haven for education, growth, and social development,” he stated.

“I assure all the affected families that every public medical resource is at their disposal to ensure that all injured children receive the highest level of care. As your President, I pledge that the difficult questions that have been asked such as how this tragedy occurred and why the response was not timely will be answered; fully, frankly, and without fear or favour.”

President Ruto added: “All relevant persons and bodies will be held to account, and we shall do all that is required to ensure that, as far as possible, we shall never again find ourselves in the grips of such a tragedy.”