Hillside Endarasha Academy: CS Ogamba Cuts Short His China Trip, Flies Back After Deadly School Fire

• Education CS Julius Migos Ogamba cut short his China trip after the tragic fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy, which claimed 17 pupils' lives
• Ogamba was attending the 9th FOCAC Summit with President William Ruto but returned to oversee the response to the disaster personally
• The Ministry of Education confirmed the CS is heading back to Kenya to ensure swift action and support for the affected
• Investigations into the cause of the midnight fire are underway as the nation mourns the loss of young lives

Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Nairobi - Cabinet Secretary for Education Julius Migos Ogamba has cut short his official trip to China following a deadly fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Kieni, Nyeri county.

The tragedy that shocked the nation has left the country mourning 17 pupils and prompted the swift decision by the CS to return home.

Ogamba was part of President William Ruto's delegation in China for the 9th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit.

In a statement released by the Ministry of Education, it was confirmed that Ogamba was on his way back to Kenya to personally oversee the response to the disaster.

"The Cabinet Secretary for Education, Julius Migos Ogamba, who has been on an official trip in China is on his way back to join our local teams to ensure the situation is addressed with utmost urgency," read part of the statement.

The midnight fire on Thursday, September 5, injured several other pupils, and investigations are underway to determine the cause of the blaze.

Ruto orders investigations into Hillside Endarasha fire

Earlier, President Ruto sanctioned the Ministry of Interior to expeditiously probe the fire tragedy that befell the school.

The president, while commiserating with the school and the affected families, suggested the fire broke out due to a supposed laxity on the side of the school.

`Ruto ordered that whoever is found to have slept on their job be held to account.

He pledged government support to the affected families.

What you need to know about Hillside Endarasha Academy fire

• The burnt dormitory housed 156 boys at the time, all of whom were boarders; the school has a total enrolment of 824 students, with 316 boarders
• National police spokesperson Resila Onyango confirmed that 16 learners died at the scene and were burnt beyond recognition
• TUKO.co.ke shared moving images as parents braved the early morning cold to get firsthand information on the whereabouts of their children

Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura Guthua, journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke

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Cabinet Secretary for Education Julius Migos Ogamba.

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