Mukumu Girls Shut Down After The Death Of 3 Students, 500 Affected

On Monday, April 3^rd, the Sacred Hearst Mukumu Girls High School in Kakamega County was closed indefinitely following the deaths of two students owing to a suspected case of food and water poisoning.

According to reports, out of the 246 students who were hospitalized in the past week, 25 were still admitted at the Kakamega County General Hospital and St Elizabeth Mukumu Mission Hospital.

The students exhibited signs of vomiting, diarrhea, and dizziness. Their samples were collected and sent to the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) for analysis to arrive at the cause of the outbreak.

Mr. Jared Obiero, the Western region’s education director, who visited the school on Monday morning, said the Ministry of Health and medical workers from the county government were investigating the cause of the disease outbreak

So far, three students have died while the majority have been discharged from the Kakamega County General Teaching & Referral Hospital and St Elizabeth Mukumu Mission Hospital, with reports indicating that 500 are affected, 25 in the hospital.

The school’s board of management chairman, Dr. Josphat Kaswira, on Saturday confirmed the death of the first student, who was from Bungoma County. The second one died at home in Navakholo on Sunday after falling sick.

Parents flocked to the school to collect their children after learning of the deaths. In an April 2 notice to parents, school principal Fridah Ndolo said the two students who died were in Form One W and Form Two C.

“Let’s pray for our students and the Mukumu community. If we take a child home for treatment let us take her to the hospital and monitor her. We have lost two students. God, give us grace and wisdom to go through this trying moment. May the departed souls find eternal peace.”

With the latest development, Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has now demanded the replacement of the entire school administration led by Principal Fridah Ndolo whom he accused of negligence

This is the third tragedy to hit the institution in less than three years. A similar incident happened in 2021 when over twenty girls fell ill under unclear circumstances out of which two died.

In May last year, over 28 girls also got sick and the authorities never disclosed the kind of illness. No reports concerning the state of affairs have ever been made public. No disciplinary measures have ever been taken against the management. A month later that year, two students died due to an alleged outbreak of malaria at the school.

Related Content: He left Teaching for Chicken and Now He is Smiling