Police are investigating an incident where a grade 5 learner at Namanjalala primary school in Trans Nzoia County died after allegedly being punished by a teacher.
Yesterday ,12 year old boy Mike, who was in grade 5 died at 11 p.m. at Kitale County hospital where he had been admitted in critical condition.
According to his classmates, the deceased broke a goal post and he was ordered by a teacher to run thirteen times around the field as a punishment.
After running around the playground 13 times, the deceased fainted and started vomiting blood. The teacher then ordered the school security guard to take the boy home.
The parents of the deceased were not home at that time as they were out for casual work but a neighbour took him to Kitale County hospital for treatment.
After rushing him to hospital the neighbor informed the boy’s mother. Catherine Wanjala mother to the deceased said she got to hospital one hour later and found the boy being attended by doctors but his condition was serious.
Catherine told the nation that her son was in good health when he left for school in the morning. She could not understand why a teacher would punish a child in such a manner. She wants justice for her son.
She said her son died some minutes past 11 p.m after being admitted and the doctors told her that her son might have suffered bleeding in the brain when he passed out at the school.
The deceased father Geoffrey Wanjala 45, said he is tormented after the death of his son who he said was bright and disciplined.
He noted that he has been left hopeless after the death of his son yet nobody from the school administration has reached them to explain what happened.
Parents and residents have demonstrated at the school following the incident while calling for dismissal of the teacher and the headteacher.
The angry residents accused teachers at the school of using corporal punishment on their children and called on police to investigate the matter.
Led by Benard Wanjala, the residents threatened the school until the ministry of education made immediate changes to the school leadership.
Trans Nzoia County parents’ association chairman Wellington Waliaula called for thorough investigation into the incident.
He added that several parents had raised alarm over corporal punishment by teachers at the school.
When Nation contacted the school headteacher Rose Kisia ,her phone was off.
It prompted Kwanza Sub County director of education Kennedy Makokha to visit the school to engage parents who had threatened to go on a rampage.
The director said the matter had already been reported to police and the ministry and action will be taken to those involved in the incident.
He called for calm as the government engages the school management before disciplinary action is taken.
Trans Nzoia County Directorate of investigations DCI coordinator Francis Kihara said detectives have already launched investigations and key witnesses have recorded statements before post mortem is conducted to ascertain the cause of death.
The body of the deceased is lying in the morgue at Kitale County hospital.
