The postmortem examination of pupils who tragically lost their lives in the Hillside Academy fire is set to commence today (Thursday).
This follows after DNA samples were collected from families who lost their kins, a process that experts from the government chemist and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations forensics team spearheaded.
DCI Director Abraham Mugambi said the goal is to match the bodies which were burnt beyond recognition to their loved ones.
According to the DCI Director, preliminary investigations showed that 330 students enrolled as boarders in the school which comprised of 166 females and 164 males since opening of the third term.
Eight boys had not reported back, leaving 156 boys in the boys’ dormitory on the fateful night.
Investigations conducted also revealed that all girls (166) had been accounted for and are all safe with their parents.
On the injured, the DCI noted that two of the five who were admitted succumbed to their injuries while receiving treatment bringing the total number of deaths to 21.
A multi-agency team comprising of Central Region Disaster Management Committee, fire safety experts and officials from Nyeri County, Education and Health Ministries, EPRA, State Department for Public Works, Kenya Power are on the ground to investigate any acts of omission or commission that may have led to the tragic fire incident.
“Independent reports from these entities will help in our investigations into the cause of fire,” said DCI Director Abraham Mugambi.
