The fire, which broke out in one of the school’s dormitories, has left the community in deep sorrow and shock, as families and friends mourn the loss of their children.
While addressing a congregation during a church service in Nyeri on Sunday, President Ruto expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families affected by the fire.
He acknowledged the pain the families are going through and promised that the government would offer full support to help them during this tragic time.
To alleviate some of the burden on the families, Ruto assured that the government would cover all burial expenses for the students who died in the fire.
"I will ensure that we facilitate the burials of all the learners affected by this tragic incident. We stand with the families and the school during this difficult time," he said.
In addition to the burial costs, the Ksh.2 million donation will be used to help the students whose belongings were destroyed in the fire.
Many students lost their personal items such as books, uniforms, and bedding in the dormitory fire. Ruto emphasized the importance of getting these students back to school as soon as possible, ensuring that their education is not disrupted by the tragedy.
“I will send Ksh.2 million to purchase items for the students whose belongings were burnt, so that our children can return to school and continue their studies,” Ruto announced during his address.
He assigned Kieni Member of Parliament Njoroge Wainaina the responsibility of making sure the funds are used to assist the affected students and their families, as the school and community begin the recovery process.
Furthermore, President Ruto revealed plans to collaborate with the school’s management to help them rebuild after the incident.
He stated that once the investigations into the fire are complete, he would personally work with the school’s director, David Kinyua, to explore how the government could support the school in rebuilding the damaged dormitory and improving the school’s infrastructure.
"After the investigations, I will meet with the school director to discuss how we can help the school recover and provide a conducive learning environment for our children," Ruto said.
Despite efforts to account for all the students, many parents are still anxiously waiting for confirmation about the fate of their children.
The fire claimed the lives of 21 boys, two of whom died while receiving treatment at the hospital, while the other 19 bodies were recovered from the charred remains of the dormitory.
State House spokesperson Isaac Mwaura confirmed that out of the 330 students in the boarding section, all 166 girls had returned home safely, but the identification process for the deceased boys is ongoing.
The autopsies are being conducted at Naromoru Level 4 Hospital, where the authorities are working to help families identify their children. The slow pace of this process has left many parents in distress, waiting for answers about the tragedy.
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