DPP orders thorough investigation into cause of fire at Hillside Academy

The Attorney General's Office has ordered police to conduct a thorough investigation into the fire tragedy at Hillside Endarasha Academy in which 17 students died.

In a statement on Saturday, DPP Renson Igonga called on Acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli to ensure that investigations clarify the circumstances that led to the fatal fire.

Igonga also asked Masengeli to assess whether the tragedy was due to the negligence or recklessness of those responsible and to forward the investigation file to the Public Prosecution Service for review.

“The Public Prosecution Service assures the public that any person found responsible for the fire tragedy will be promptly brought to due process,” Igonga said.

Igonga said Kenya's 2010 Constitution guarantees every child the right to education, safety and protection from all forms of harm.

He said the tragedy at Hillside Endarasha Academy brought back bad memories of similar fire incidents in schools, which often pointed to negligence and failure on the part of those in charge.

He said that in many cases it was found that those in charge did not prioritise the safety of young children in school nor did they ensure that safety protocols were followed in accordance with relevant laws.

According to him, the relevant laws included the Basic Education Act, the Children Act and the School Safety Standards Manual, which set out the safety and protection measures that all educational institutions must adhere to.

“The DPP extends its deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the tragedy and wishes a speedy recovery to all students who suffered burns,” Igonga said.

At least 17 students were killed in Thursday night's fire tragedy, 14 others were injured and several more are reportedly still missing.