Parents of missing pupils from the Hillside Endarasha Academy dormitory fire that claimed 17 lives and left 14 pupils injured on Thursday night have expressed frustrations over lack of information as search continues even as the fate of the missing children is yet to be established.
Yesterday, the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) shifted blame to the government for the Hillside Endarasha Academy fire.
Parents’ frustrations came even after President William Ruto yesterday evening declared three days of national mourning to honour students who died in the tragedy.
“As a solemn testament to the indelible mark left upon the nation’s consciousness by the spirits of the seventeen departed children, Kenya shall observe three days of national mourning.” President Ruto stated.
To honour the memory of the victims, the Head of State directed that the flags of the Republic of Kenya and the East African Community (EAC) be flown at half-mast during the period of mourning.
The flags will be lowered from dawn on Monday, September 9, 2024, until sunset on Wednesday, September 11, 2024.
This directive applies to the State House, all Kenyan Diplomatic Missions, public buildings, public grounds, military bases, posts, stations, naval vessels, and throughout the entire country.
Speaking to the media, KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori called for strict adherence to safety measures in schools.
School fires are common in boarding schools, where many students stay because parents believe it gives them more time to study.
In 2017, at least 10 students were killed in a fire at a school in Nairobi. Eight students were killed at a school in Homa Bay County in Western in 2012.
In one of the deadliest fire incidents in the country, at least 58 pupils were killed in a dormitory fire at Kyanguli Secondary School outside Nairobi in 2001.
In his address yesterday, Misori referenced a similar incident at Precious Talents Academy in Dagoretti South, Nairobi, in September 2019, where eight pupils died and 64 were injured after classroom walls collapsed.
KUPPET pointed out that after that tragedy, safety measures were proposed to the then Education Cabinet Secretary, but they have yet to be implemented.
Misori accused the Kenya Kwanza government, through the Ministry of Education, of ignoring calls to oversee compliance with policies under the Safety Standards Manual for Schools in Kenya, 2018.
“While we mourn, we appeal to the government to take serious measures to assure safety in our schools and prevent such painful events in future. Almost five years ago, the country faced a similar tragedy at Precious Talents Academy. KUPPET initiated a study to establish the level of compliance with school safety policies and recommend long-lasting solutions.” Misori noted.
The Secretary-General outlined the safety guidelines in the manual, which include standards for building materials, classroom sizes, window dimensions, ventilation, and the number of students allowed in a given space.
“The answer to these disasters is known. Schools must be made to comply with safety policies under the Safety Standards Manual for Schools in Kenya, 2018. This document contains guidelines on the safety of learners and all members of school communities.” Misori added.
KUPPET had previously proposed several measures to enhance student safety, including a review and harmonisation of all policies and guidelines related to safety, security, and disaster management in the education sector.
The union also advocated for increased funding for safety in schools and recommended that safety training be provided both to trainee teachers in colleges and to those already working in the field.
