Kenya Power addresses reports of electric fault at Endarasha Academy

By Peter Ochieng

The Kenya Power company has responded to reports of an electric fault having a hand in the fire tragedy that caused the death of 21 learners, at the Endarasha Hillside Academy in Kieni, Nyeri County last week.

With authorities not having settled on a particular cause, an electrical fault was touted as a possible cause of the fire that burned down a buys’ dormitory at the school. However, in a statement on Tuesday, Kenya Power ruled out an electric fault as the cause.

“Based on the findings of the preliminary analysis of our protection system, from the metre box to the substation where the medium voltage line serving the school emanates from, 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 said.

“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.”

The company stated that it cut off power to the school immediately, after learning of the fire incident.

“As a company, electrical safety is of utmost priority in all our operations. Upon receiving the news of this fire incident, our team in Nyeri switched off power supply to the school as a precautionary measure while handling the fire incident,” the company added.

A technical team, Kenya Power added, was mobilised to visit the school and carry out a preliminary analysis of the affected site, adding that power supply was stable at the time of the incident.

"The line supplying the school is a low voltage line from Mweiga sub-station. At the time when the fire incident occurred, supply was stable on this line with no reported incidents.”

Additionally, the company said the fire did not affect two prepaid metres located within the school’s complex. The company wished a quick recovery to all the children who were affected by the incident.