Mukumu Girls’ High School in Kakamega has been closed indefinitely after two students died and over 500 others infected with bacteria from contaminated food and water.
One more student is currently recovering in the intensive care unit (ICU) at a local hospital, according to reports.
Confirming the incident, Western Regional Director of Education Jared Obiero said the move to shut down the school came after consultations between the school, the Ministry of Education, and the county government.
The deceased students were among the 111 girls who were rushed to the hospital last week with headache, diarrhea and fever symptoms. One of the students died last week as she was receiving treatment.
“We have lost two students Wendy Oyugi Amani who passed on in Bungoma and Miriam Namachanja who had not resumed half term,” the School Principal Fridah Ndolo confirmed on Monday.
The bug was initially suspected to be Cholera outbreak but County public health officials ruled it out after tests revealed a possibility of food poisoning.
In 2022, two students at the same institution are said to have lost their lives from a similar incident.
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale claims quality assurance officers deployed to the school after last year’s incident made their findings, which were not implemented.
“The incident just repeated itself. I’m here with the directorate of quality assurance, they investigated the incident last year and made their recommendations, but they were not implemented,” Senator Khalwale said.
Khalwale said part of the water the school uses is pumped from a nearby spring, which is said to be contaminated.
He also alleged that the cereals consumed at the school are preserved using a poisonous chemical that was further putting the students at risk
“Because of a desire to make sure their cereals are consumed, they use an unscrupulous chemical called Nova to preserve the cereal,” Khalwale said.
“This information was not given to doctors at the hospital, so doctors have been fumbling and investigating COVID, HIV, and so on and so forth instead of treating food poisoning. Currently 25 students are in hospital and they are being treated,” he added.
Doctors investigating COVID …
Doctors investigating COVID & HIV?? Are these doctors quarks?
When masses of people in a given environment are sick and everyone is exhibiting symptoms of diarrhea among other symptoms, the first diagnosis to consider is contamination/ Ecoli, food/beverages poisoning, cholera, dysentery and NOT HIV for heaven sake!
There are reports that…
There are reports that poisonous food/drinks agent,Raila has been visiting the school at night for the last one year.
I hope the Doctors will…
I hope the Doctors will clarify whether it is food poisoning or poisonous food.