David Kinyua and his wife, Mary Wanjeri, have been revealed as the owners of Hillside Endarasha Academy, a private primary school in Kieni Constituency, Nyeri County.
Last week, the school was struck by tragedy when a night fire broke out, killing 21 pupils. This heartbreaking incident has left both the local community and the nation in shock, leading to calls for investigations into the cause of the fire and the safety standards at the school.
Mr. Kinyua started Hillside Endarasha Academy about 15 years ago. Over the years, the school gained a good reputation for its academic performance, attracting many parents who were eager to have their children enrolled.
Before 2017, the school was relatively unknown, but it quickly rose to fame after producing the top KCPE candidate in Nyeri County that year.
Kellen Njambi, a student from the school, scored 443 marks in the KCPE exams, making her the best student in the county. That same year, nine other pupils from the school scored above 400 marks.
This success boosted the school’s popularity, drawing parents from all over the Central region who wanted to secure spots for their children.
Edna Mwangi, a parent of three children who studied at the school, praised its performance.
"All my children went through this school and have joined good high schools and universities. The school gave them a strong foundation," she said.
Many parents shared similar sentiments about the school’s commitment to providing quality education.
The police have begun investigations into the incident, and while it is not clear if Mr. Kinyua has given a formal statement, Homicide Director Martin Nyuguto confirmed that he is cooperating with the authorities.
Kenya Power, the country’s electricity supply company, has also been involved in the investigations. There were initial concerns that the fire might have been caused by an electrical fault, but the company has since ruled out this possibility.
"Based on our preliminary analysis, there was no connection between the fire and any fault in our power supply network," Kenya Power stated.
They explained that the line serving the school was in good condition, and no incidents had been reported on the night of the fire.
Despite these assurances, some parents have raised concerns about the safety of the school’s dormitory. John Mugo, who had gone to check on his nephew, noted that the dormitory was overcrowded.
"When my sister brought her son here, she was worried because the dormitory was packed with students," he said.
The fire has devastated not only the families of the victims but also the local community. According to reports, Mr. Kinyua was one of the first people to arrive at the scene on the night of the fire.
Witnesses say he appeared shaken, expressing deep concern over how he would account for the tragic deaths.
A resident who spoke to Nation said that Mr. Kinyua has always been dedicated to improving education in the area.
"He started this school over 15 years ago and has always been willing to help parents who couldn’t afford school fees. He allowed them to pay when they could," said Mary Muthoni, a local resident.
While some residents have expressed sympathy for the Kinyua family, others have raised questions about the school’s management and safety protocols.
The government has revealed that 164 children were sleeping in the dormitory on the night of the fire, sparking concerns about overcrowding.
Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga has since ordered an inspection of all schools in the county to ensure that safety regulations are being followed.
The issue of overcrowding has also been linked to the government’s 100 percent transition policy, which has increased the number of students in schools without providing additional infrastructure.
One parent, John Mwangi, who has a child still missing after the fire, expressed understanding of the situation but highlighted the need for change.
"The director is more affected than us because 21 boys have died in his hands," he said. He also acknowledged that overcrowding is not unique to Hillside Endarasha Academy.
"There are many schools with dormitories that hold the same or even more students. Our school is not the only one," he added.
Local leaders have rallied around the Kinyua family in their time of need. On Sunday, Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro led a group of politicians at an interdenominational prayer service for the fire victims.
During the event, they initiated a fundraising campaign to support the restoration of the school.
MP Nyoro contributed Sh500,000 towards rebuilding the dormitory, and Kieni MP Njoroge Wainaina pledged support from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) for the reconstruction efforts.
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