Ruto declares three days of national mourning for victims of Hillside Endarasha tragedy

President William Ruto has declared a three-day national mourning period following the tragic deaths of 18 pupils at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County.

The students lost their lives in a devastating fire in a dormitory on Thursday night, leaving the country in deep mourning.

In a statement, President Ruto expressed the nation's collective grief, saying: “To pay tribute to the 18 young people who left their mark on Kenya in an unforgettable way, the country will observe three days of mourning.”

He also ordered that the flags of Kenya and the East African Community (EAC) fly at half-mast during this period as a symbol of national mourning and respect for the victims.

The ceremony begins at dawn on Monday, September 9, 2024, and lasts until sunset on Wednesday, September 11, 2024.

Flags shall be flown at half-mast at State House, all Kenyan diplomatic missions, public institutions, military bases, naval vessels and throughout the territory of the Republic of Kenya.

President Ruto expressed his deep concern for the survivors of the tragedy and offered words of condolence and support.

“We extend the sympathy and condolences of the entire nation to the young people who survived the fire but will now bear lifelong physical and emotional scars,” he said.

He informed the public that fourteen boys had sustained injuries and were being treated in various hospitals. He added: “We wish them a speedy and full recovery and our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families.”

The President also acknowledged the deep sadness throughout the country and remembered the tragic loss of such young children’s lives.

“The great sadness across the country and beyond our borders reflects our common humanity,” he noted.

“The children who tragically lost their lives were between the ages of 9 and 13, in grades four to eight; far too young to have been taken from us. This loss brings with it a unique sense of anger, bitterness, sadness and emptiness at the cruel twist of fate that snuffed out seventeen lives before they had the chance to become the great Kenyan adults they were meant to be.”

Following the tragedy, President Ruto promised to ensure accountability in schools across the country and stressed the importance of child safety.

“This incident forces us to hold all schools across the country accountable and take all possible measures to protect the lives of our schoolchildren. No child should lose his life in a place that is supposed to be a paradise for education, growth and social development,” he said.

President Ruto assured the affected families of the government's support and promised that all necessary medical resources would be made available to ensure that the injured children received the best possible care.

He also promised to address the pressing issues surrounding the tragedy.

“As your President, I pledge that the difficult questions that have been asked, such as how this tragedy occurred and why the response was not timely, will be answered fully, openly and without fear or favor. All relevant individuals and entities will be held accountable and we will do whatever is necessary to ensure that, to the extent possible, we are never in the grip of such a tragedy again.”

As the nation now enters a time of mourning, President Ruto called for unity and solidarity, concluding: “Now our nation must mourn and honour the seventeen young people who lost their lives and we must stand in solidarity with their families, friends, relatives and schoolmates.”