The tragic fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Kieni West, Nyeri County, has left many in shock after 21 pupils perished in a dormitory blaze.
As investigations continue into the cause of the devastating incident, attention has turned to the owners of the school, David Kinyua and his wife, Mary Wanjeri, the little-known tycoons behind this once-prestigious institution.
David Kinyua, a determined entrepreneur, established Hillside Endarasha Academy about 15 years ago in Endarasha Village, with the vision of offering quality education in the region.
His dream quickly bore fruit, as the school produced stellar academic performances over the years.
In 2017, Hillside’s reputation soared when Kellen Njambi, one of its pupils, topped Nyeri County’s KCPE results with an impressive 443 marks.
This achievement marked a turning point for the school, attracting hundreds of students from across the county and beyond, with more than 10 of them scoring over 400 marks in that year’s national exams.
The school’s rapid rise to fame was fueled by the confidence of parents like Edna, who enrolled all three of her children at Hillside.
“All my children have joined prestigious high schools and universities because of the strong foundation they received here,” she said.
However, despite its success, the school is now at the center of a dark chapter.
On the night of the fire, Mr. Kinyua, visibly devastated, was present at the scene.
As of Tuesday, police had not confirmed whether he had recorded an official statement regarding the incident, leaving many wondering about the role of the school management in the disaster.
Initial reports speculated that an electrical malfunction could have caused the fire, but Kenya Power has since denied these allegations.
In a statement, the power company clarified that their systems, including the meters and transformers supplying the school, were intact and unaffected by the fire.
Kenya Power also indicated that supply to the school was stable at the time of the incident.
