By Shadrack Nyakoe
The government has pledged to cover all medical and funeral expenses for the 21 pupils who tragically died in last Thursday’s fire at Endarasha Academy.
Nyeri County Commissioner and acting Central Region Commissioner, Pius Murugu, announced the initiative as part of efforts to support the grieving families.
“The government will cover all medical bills and burial costs. A memorial service for the victims is also being organized before the bodies are released for burial,” Murugu stated, adding that psychological support is being provided to the affected families and community members.
Murugu confirmed that 19 of the 164 pupils in the dormitory died on the scene, while two others passed away in the hospital.
The process of identifying the bodies at the Naromoru Level 4 Hospital mortuary is ongoing.
To expedite DNA analysis, the bodies have been transferred to the county mortuary, easing the burden on the Nyeri County Teaching and Referral Hospital.
Investigators are still determining the cause of the fire.
Kenya Power has ruled out an electrical fault after examining the school’s power connections.
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Nyeri Kenya Power Business Manager Duncan Machuka confirmed that their protection system, from the meter box to the substation, was not linked to the fire at Endarasha Academy.
Attention now shifts to the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), responsible for power beyond the meter, to further investigate the cause of the fire.
Kenya Power is collaborating with EPRA and other investigators to uncover the source of the blaze, despite initial speculation about a power failure.