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The investigation into the deadly fire at Endarasha Hillside Academy that occurred on September 5, 2024, is nearly concluded, according to Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja.
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While handing over a patrol vehicle to the Endarasha Police Station in Kieni on Wednesday, Kanja revealed that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is finalizing its probe into the blaze that killed 21 boys.
“We’re almost done with the investigations. I was discussing it this morning with the DCI, and we are now at the tail end. Kenyans will soon know what caused the tragedy,” Kanja stated.
The fatal fire broke out in the boys’ dormitory on the night of Wednesday, September 4, 2024. Nineteen students died at the scene, while others sustained serious burns. Two more later succumbed to their injuries.
Following the incident, Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga directed the Inspector General to carry out a comprehensive investigation to establish the cause. He also instructed that the probe determine whether negligence or recklessness contributed to the tragedy, emphasizing that any responsible parties would face prosecution.
Initial media reports linked the inferno to an electrical fault. However, a parent of a survivor claimed the fire started near the dormitory’s main entrance before spreading rapidly to the rest of the building, which accommodated 156 boys at the time.
Kenya Power later dismissed the electrical fault theory. During a press briefing on September 10, Nyeri County KPLC Business Manager Duncan Machuka stated that their preliminary investigation showed no connection between the fire and the school’s power system.
Machuka explained that power supply to the school was stable and low voltage at the time, and that all electrical installations remained intact. “Our system analysis — from the meter box to the substation feeding the school — showed no indication of any fault linked to the incident,” he said.
In response, the DCI confirmed it had deployed forensic teams to thoroughly investigate the tragedy. DCI Director Abraham Mugambi said the teams were collaborating with fire safety professionals and other relevant agencies to uncover the true cause of the deadly blaze.
