Hillside Endarasha Academy Case Pushed to December, Court Orders Fresh Safety Inspections.
Education Cabinet Secretary, Nyeri County Director of Education, the Attorney General, and the Nyeri County Education Board have until December 20 to submit a Health and Safety report on Hillside Endarasha Academy.
The report’s submission deadline was established by Justice Kizito Magare after the court found that the respondents had not adhered to previous court orders dated October 9 and October 17.
Justice Magare directed the County Director of Education, Nyeri County Education Board, National Education Board, Education CS, and Attorney General to submit the required Health and Safety reports by December 20.
These instructions came after it was noted that these respondents had not complied with earlier court directives.
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“The 4th-8th respondents (County Director of Education, the Nyeri County Education Board, the National Education Board, the Education CS and the Attorney General) to file reports on the Safety and Health before 20/12/2024,” said Justice Magare on Thursday.
The Kenya Human Rights Commission, David Karani, and Elimu Bora Working Group, represented by Chimei and Malenya Company Advocates, filed a suit on October 7.
They requested a mandatory injunction, aiming to ensure that the respondents conducted a thorough inspection and delivered a detailed report on the school’s safety conditions.
The petitioners expressed concerns regarding the hurried reopening of the school, where a recent fire tragically claimed 21 students’ lives, stating that this haste showed inadequate consideration for the institution’s safety standards.
They also argued that the respondents had failed to provide a comprehensive report on measures implemented to guarantee a safe learning environment.
Court Orders Fresh Safety Inspections
In response, Justice Magare ordered a renewed inspection focusing on the school’s electrical systems after it was discovered that installations and testing had been performed within the same day.
While allowing the school to admit 114 students set to take the KPSEA, he conditioned this decision on a confirmation from Nyeri County Director of Education, Ms. Jane Njogu, that adequate safety measures had been implemented.
Robert Kimunya, representing the school’s Board of Management, informed the court that the school was closed for the Third Term break, except for Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) candidates who were preparing for exams scheduled from October 28 to 30.
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He affirmed that discussions had been held with the County Director of Education to address this arrangement.
The case is set to proceed on December 20, when Justice Magare will issue further directions based on the submitted health and safety findings.
Hillside Endarasha Academy Case Pushed to December, Court Orders Fresh Safety Inspections.
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