Editor's Review

"We have ascertained there was no link between the cause of the fire and any fault on our network as alleged in sections of media reports."

The Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) has ruled out the possibility of an electrical fault causing the Hill Side Endarasha Academy fire tragedy that claimed the lives of 21 pupils.

In a statement on Tuesday, September 10, KPLC said upon receiving reports of a fire incident they switched off the power supply to the school as a precautionary measure.

The company noted that it mobilized a technical team to visit the school and carry out a preliminary analysis of the affected site. 

According to Kenya Power, the team observed that the line supplying electricity to the school is a low-voltage line from the Mweiga sub-station and at the time when the fire incident occurred, the supply was stable with no reported incidences.

KPLC pointed out that Kenya Power installations in the school including the meter, supply cable, earthings, low voltage and high-tension fuses, and the transformer were intact.

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File image of Hillside Endarasha Academy

The utility firm also mentioned that the fire did not affect two prepaid meters located within the larger school complex.

“Based on the findings of the preliminary analysis of our protection system, from the meter box to the substation where the medium voltage line serving the school emanates from, we have ascertained there was no link between the cause of the fire and any fault on our network as alleged in sections of media reports,” KPLC stated.

The company vowed to continue to work collaboratively with other investigating agencies to establish the cause of the fire.

On Thursday night, September 5, a fire broke out at a dormitory in Hillside Endarasha Academy that housed 156 male learners.

The incident resulted in the deaths of 19 pupils at the scene while 2 others succumbed while undergoing treatment in hospital.

In a Presidential Proclamation on September 6, President William Ruto announced a three-day period of national mourning from Monday, September 9, to Wednesday, September 11, in honour of the departed pupils.

The Head of State has also directed various security agencies to step up their investigations and establish what transpired that fateful night.