Kenya Power has released preliminary findings regarding the tragic fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County, which occurred on the morning of September 6, 2024. The fire, which took the lives of 21 children and destroyed a dormitory, sparked widespread speculation, with some reports implicating the power supply company.
In an official statement on September 10, 2024, Kenya Power extended its condolences to the affected families and wished a speedy recovery for the injured children. The company also emphasized its commitment to assisting with ongoing investigations to uncover the true cause of the fire. “May the souls of all the departed children rest in eternal peace,” the statement read.
Kenya Power’s investigation found no link between the fire and any faults in its power supply network. The company clarified that the line supplying power to the school is a low-voltage line from the Mweiga sub-station, and the power supply on that line was stable at the time of the fire.
A technical team was dispatched immediately after the incident to assess the site. The team confirmed that all Kenya Power installations at the school, including the meters, earthing, and transformers, were intact. Moreover, the fire did not affect two prepaid meters located within the school complex or any other customers supplied by the same transformer.
“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,” Kenya Power stated. The company also reiterated that electrical safety is a core priority in its operations.
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Kenya Power has pledged full cooperation with other investigative agencies to determine the true cause of the fire. The company acted promptly upon learning of the incident, switching off the power supply to the school as a precautionary measure in accordance with established safety protocols.