Nyeri Deputy County Commissioner Fiercely Interrogated by Gen Z on Endarasha Fire Tragedy
Key takeaways
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- A group of Gen Zs trooped into Nyeri’s Endarasha area following a tragic fire incident at the local Hillside Endarasha Academy.
- Led by outspoken activist Kasmuel McOure, the young protestors embarked on a fact-finding mission to determine the whereabouts of reported missing children.
- The group confronted police and government officials as they pushed for accountability for the tragedy.
- The group successfully outmaneuvered goons to get to the scene, where they found government officials ready to address their concerns.
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The puzzle of missing 70 Endarasha Academy pupils after a horrific fire incident
Kenyans are still reeling with shock following the Friday, September 6th fire tragedy that claimed the lives of more than 20 students from the Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri.
The events surrounding the incident are shrouded in mystery as Kenyans speculate on what could have happened to the affected pupils.
While 21 boys have officially been confirmed as having lost their lives, social media is awash with conflicting figures about the fire survivors.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua visited the scene barely 6 hours after the fire, announcing that the whereabouts of 70 schoolkids were unknown.
The revelation caused panic among parents and the public, as authorities scampered to trace the missing children.
Unconfirmed claims of a possible mass kidnapping clouded social media as people speculated on the safety of the 70 kids.
Other shocking reports outrageously claimed that some 91 kids had been spotted at Gulu in Northern Uganda.
To quell intense speculation, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) released a statement providing a complete account of the male Hillside Academy students.
In a press release dated 11th September 2024, the DCI listed the following key numbers about the tragedy:
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- A total of 330 students were enrolled at the school with 164 being males and 166 females.
- At the time of the incident, 8 boys had not reported back to school for the third term.
- 156 boys were in the dormitory on the tragic night.
- 140 boys safe with their parents (this number includes the 8 who had not yet reported for the third term)
- 19 bodies were recovered from the scene. 2 more boys sadly passed on in hospital due to severe burns.
- 3 boys remain hospitalized.
- All 166 female borders are safe with their parents.
Gen Z activists storm Nyeri, blast the DCI for giving inaccurate figures on Endarasha fire tragedy
Although the DCI statement seemed comprehensive, covering all affected students, a group of young activists has strongly disputed its accuracy.
The Kasmuel McOure-led group set out from Nairobi to the Endarasha neighborhood in Nyeri seeking accountability from the government on the tragedy.
Nyeri Deputy County Commissioner Agnes Shadrack was dispatched to address the activists.
Her tense confrontation with the youngsters was recorded in a video that has since gone viral on social media.
The soft-spoken Agnes braved cold, grimacing stares as she battled tough questions from McOure and his lieutenants.
“As of yesterday night, more than 3 parents were still said that their kids were unaccounted for,” One of the activists posed while quoting a local media outlet.
Seemingly disputing the veracity of DCI’s figures, the activists called for the correct verified numbers of the missing pupils, and those who sadly died in the inferno.
In response, the Deputy County Commissioner referred them to the regional commissioner’s office.
“About the numbers, there’s only one office that can give you the numbers. That is the regional commissioner’s office,” said Agnes Shadrack.
“So you are releasing unverified numbers? the DCI yesterday released unverified figures? Are you even the right person to answer our questions?” The angry activists countered.
The government stands firm about its official figures, with the Interior Cabinet Secretary cautioning social media users against spreading false information about this sensitive issue.
CS Kindiki has labeled those who spread misleading information as heartless criminals and enemies of society.
