The Directorate of Criminal Investigation is set to begin autopsy exercise for bodies of children who died in a deadly fire at the Endarasha Hillside Academy.
The fire claimed the lives of 21 children.
In a statement issued by DCI Director Mohammed Amin, forensic teams and experts from the Homicide Directorate have been deployed to perform a detailed inquiry into this tragic incident.
The investigation is taking place in collaboration with various government bodies, including the Central Region Disaster Management Committee, the County Government of Nyeri, and the Ministry of Education, among others.
The aim is to uncover any possible acts of omission or commission that contributed to this heartbreaking loss.
According to preliminary reports, the academy had a total enrollment of 330 boarders, with 166 girls and 164 boys.
On the night of the inferno, 156 boys were present in the dormitory, as eight had yet to return for the new term that started just two days earlier.
While all girls have been accounted for, 140 boys have also been confirmed safe; however, two boys who were admitted to the hospital succumbed to their injuries.
As investigations continue, DNA samples have been collected from the families to identify the remains of the children, which were severely burnt beyond recognition. Autopsies for the victims are scheduled for September 12, 2024.
The DCI has vowed to conduct fast and thorough investigations, offering heartfelt condolences to the grieving families affected by this tragedy.
The community remains in mourning, grappling with the loss of young lives while hoping for answers in the days to come.
