Kenya Power's Statement on the Recent Fire Incident at Hillside Academy, Nyeri County
Nyeri, Kenya — September 10, 2024
In the wake of a tragic fire that engulfed a dormitory at Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County on September 6, 2024, Kenya Power has issued an official statement regarding the incident. The fire, which claimed the lives of young children, has left the community deeply shaken.
Kenya Power expressed its deepest condolences to the families affected by this heart-wrenching event. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the affected families during this difficult time, and we wish quick recovery to all the children who were affected by this incident. May the souls of the departed children rest in eternal peace,” the company stated.
Precautionary Measures by Kenya Power
As part of their commitment to electrical safety, Kenya Power immediately responded to the news by cutting off the power supply to the school. This precautionary measure was taken to prevent any further hazards during the fire incident. A technical team was promptly deployed to conduct an assessment of the school’s power infrastructure.
Preliminary Findings
Upon conducting a thorough investigation, the technical team made the following observations:
1. Stable Power Supply: The power line supplying the school was a low-voltage line from Mweiga substation. At the time of the incident, the line was stable with no reported electrical faults.
2. Intact Power Installations: All key Kenya Power installations—including the meter, supply cables, earthing, low-voltage and high-tension fuses, as well as the transformer—were found intact.
3. Prepaid Meters Unaffected:The fire did not spread to prepaid meters in the school's complex, and the electrical supply to adjacent customers remained unaffected.
Kenya Power has confirmed that there was no link between the cause of the fire and any fault in the company's power supply network, contrary to some media reports. The fire was not caused by any issues with the electrical systems serving the school. The company emphasized its continued cooperation with other investigating agencies to determine the actual cause of the fire.
