KNUT Officials Want CS Magoha to Resign Following Deadly Xylene Claims

Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) officials of Turkana region have called on the Cabinet Secretary for Education Prof. George Magoha to resign following claims that a toxic chemical, Xylene, was used in the 2019 chemistry practical exams.

The Turkana region chairperson Kenyaman Ariong’oa accused the ministry of education led by Prof. Magoha of exposing candidates to harmful substances during the exam period and urged him to take responsibility.

After the chemistry practical examination which took place on Friday, 8^th November 2019, there were complaints of students and teachers who were supervising the exam feeling sickly with some having to be rushed to hospital.

The news of candidates and teachers being taken ill after the exam went viral but the ministry of education insisted that they had not received any such official report and they were treating the claims as mere rumours.

In Kisumu County, a student known as Appollo had to write the subsequent papers from the hospital after the gas from the deadly chemical allegedly exploded on his face.

There have been claims that another student from Barina Mixed Day Secondary School in Nakuru County, Victor Kiprono, died days after sitting his chemical practical exam, his parents suspecting that his condition and subsequent death was triggered by exposure to the deadly xylene chemical.

According to Ariong’oa, the union has done independent investigations and has established that at least 50 exam centres were affected by the chemical and 15 cases were reported.

Ariong’oa said that many people were affected in Turkana and their cases reported but no action has been taken, yet some school principals have remained silent about the issue for fear of being victimized.

“People are suffering with symptoms such as eye irritation, stomach aches and swollen lips, a student is already dead as a results of the effects of the chemical, yet Magoha wants to downplay all these? How many people should die before he accepts that the chemical is dangerous? He should step down immediately,” said Ariong’oa.

Turkana region’s inter-religious leader Mr. Yusuf Aremons also supported the calls for Magoha’s resignation as he (Magoha) appears not to take the matter seriously.

According to Mr. Aremons, Prof. Magoha is turning a deaf ear to parents and family of the affected individuals and does not deserve the education docket.

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