Kenya commenced DNA testing on Monday aimed at identifying the boys who died in a tragic school dormitory fire last week.
The country has also declared three days of mourning for the 21 young victims of the devastating tragedy, which has brought attention to safety standards at Kenyan schools.
The children lost their lives when a fire broke out in their dormitory at the Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County, Central Kenya, while they were asleep late on Thursday night.
19 bodies were discovered in the charred remains of the building, while two more succumbed to their injuries in the hospital, with 17 still unaccounted for, according to government spokesman Isaac Mwaura on Saturday.
Authorities have stated that the bodies of the children, aged between nine and 13, were extensively burnt, and families are anxiously awaiting news about their loved ones.
Nyeri County Commissioner Pius Murigu told AFP on Sunday that the forensic process for identifying the bodies will begin on Monday at the Naromoru hospital, located around an hour’s drive from the school.
Chief government pathologist Johansen Oduor has mentioned that postmortems will commence on Tuesday.
President William Ruto announced a mourning period on Friday to honour the victims, labelling the incident an “unfathomable tragedy”.
All Kenyan public buildings, military bases, and embassies are scheduled to lower flags to half-mast from dawn on Monday to sunset on Wednesday.