President Ruto Orders Flags at Half-Mast to Honour Hillside Endarasha Tragedy
President William Ruto has declared a three-day period of national mourning to honor the 18 young lives tragically lost in a devastating blaze at Hillside Endarasha Academy on Friday, September 6.
The period of mourning will begin on Monday, September 9, and continue until Wednesday, September 11, during which time the Kenyan flag, along with that of the East African Community (EAC), will be flown at half-mast across the nation.
In a solemn statement released from China, where the President is currently on an official visit, Ruto expressed the profound grief that has gripped the nation. “As a solemn testament to the indelible mark left upon the nation’s consciousness by the spirits of the eighteen departed children, Kenya shall observe a three-day period of national mourning,” he declared.
The President’s directive includes lowering the flags at the State House, all Kenyan diplomatic missions, public buildings, military bases, naval vessels, and other public spaces from dawn on Monday until sunset on Wednesday.
The tragedy, which struck the school located in Nyeri, claimed the lives of students aged between 9 and 13, all of whom were in Grades 4 to 8. The inferno, which engulfed the dormitory in the early hours of Friday morning, has left families and communities across the country in shock and mourning.
As the nation mourns, the search for the 70 students who remain unaccounted for continues. Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, addressing the uncertainty, explained, “We still cannot account for 70 pupils.”
He urged parents and local residents to report any children who may have been taken home during the chaos to ensure their safety. “I am appealing to each and every parent who took their child to report to us so that we know where those children are,” Gachagua emphasized.
Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki, who visited the site, vowed that there would be “full accountability for all whose action or inaction contributed to this tremendous loss.” The government, in collaboration with humanitarian agencies, is working tirelessly to support the affected families and provide clarity in this time of crisis.
President Ruto, reflecting the nation’s collective sorrow, stated, “No child should lose their life in a place that is meant to be a safe haven for education, growth, and social development.”
As the country prepares to honor the memory of these young victims, the sense of loss and grief permeates every corner of Kenya.
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President Ruto Orders Flags at Half-Mast to Honour Hillside Endarasha Tragedy
