HILLSIDE ENDARASHA ACADEMY: Kenyans Storm Embattled School As Gov’t Aims to Silence Dissent
A group of Kenyans has arrived at the Hillside Academy School in Endarasha, Nyeri, to demand the prompt search for over 70 allegedly missing students, as well as justice for the 21 people who died in an inferno last week.
Seth, it’s misleading calling the group at Hillside “protesters”. We are concerned citizens. https://t.co/g3GY2XCswk
— WhosThatChic™ – Teargassed Baddie 🇰🇪🇵🇸 (@MissNerima) September 12, 2024
The group, which formed within hours on X using the hashtag #OccupyEndarasha, arrived at the ill-fated school on Thursday after traveling from Nairobi – some by matatus and others by private means.
The group was led by Nerima, who describes herself on X as an author, and included X users Njoki Njanja and Njoki Ndung’u, as well as popular singer-turned-activist Kasmuel McOure.
Wamekataa tupite so we’ve decided to work #OccupyEndarasha pic.twitter.com/lT5gs01hDF
— Kiki (@Njoki_Njanja) September 12, 2024
Prior to arriving in Endarasha, the activists shared their itinerary online.
They invited more Kenyans to join them on the inaugural trip in order to put pressure on both the government and Hillside’s school administration to provide answers.
Nerima and her colleagues reported that when they arrived near the school, they were met with stiff opposition from some local men who claimed to be under orders from “above.”
Nerima shared photos of some of the men dressed in heavy clothing and boots, brandishing sticks.
It’s both #OccupyEndarasha https://t.co/UV0sKGIolR pic.twitter.com/mRZcygHlH0
— Kiki (@Njoki_Njanja) September 12, 2024
Taking to her X account, Njoki Ndung’u wrote, “Fools in a probox have blocked the road telling us mkubwa amesema hakuna mtu anapita. We are now walking to the school. We have been met with rungus and so much hostility! #OccupyEndarasha!”
McOure, who joined the group later, also shared a video of the events surrounding Hillside Academy, confirming that he was also having trouble getting into the school.
We being threatened with rungus and there’s a police officer apa.. hatuna nchi apa #OccupyEndarasha pic.twitter.com/BNwkXfw1ZU
— Kiki (@Njoki_Njanja) September 12, 2024
“We are here at Endarasha and there’s a road block as you can see. A Probox has been parked right across the road to prevent us from accessing the school. A bit of commotion too from the police who have called for reinforcement. There’s also presence of local goons…” he said.
The locals wanakataa watu wapite…I feel like they have been paid..coz they are threatening us #OccupyEndarasha pic.twitter.com/NR9epFqLIV
— Kiki (@Njoki_Njanja) September 12, 2024
In her videos, a white Probox vehicle is seen parked near the school’s gate, along with several police officers milling around.
The abrupt trip by a group of dissatisfied Kenyans came just two days after the government issued an update on Monday assuring the nation that all 330 students, 166 girls and 164 boys, were safe following the Hillside Endarasha Academy tragedy, which claimed the lives of 21 students.
Despite assurances from Government Spokesman Isaac Mwaura, some parents are still looking for their children more than a week after the tragedy occurred.
On Thursday, a preliminary investigation by Kenya Power revealed that the fire was not caused by a faulty line, as its installations supplying the school were intact at the time of the incident.
HILLSIDE ENDARASHA ACADEMY: Kenyans Storm Embattled School As Gov’t Aims to Silence Dissent
