Kenya: Mass for pupils who died in Kakamega stampede held

Africa/Kenya/09-02-2020/Author (a) and Source: www.kbc.co.ke

A requiem mass for the 14 pupils of Kakamega primary school who died in a stampede was held Friday at Bukhungu Stadium, Kakamega County. 

Leaders and locals thronged the stadium led by Kakamega County Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, eight governors and a host of regional leaders expressed grief following the incident.

Oparanya said his county had suffered several losses in the last two years, mostly affecting school going pupils.

Speaking at the function, Principal Secretary for education Dr. Bellio Kipsang said the government was working closely with affected families, adding that the government has already given each of the affected families 100- thousand shillings to facilitate the burial arrangements.

At the same time KNUT secretary general, Wilson Sossion, blamed the government for failing to learn from the Precious Talent School tragedy where eight pupils died after the walls of their classrooms caved in, saying the tragedy was avoidable.

He called for the prosecution of those involved, sentiments echoed by former Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale and KUPPET secretary general Omboko Milemba.

A somber mood has engulfed the memorial with small coffins bearing the remains of the fallen victims lined up on tables. The bodies will later be released to their families for burial.

Police are still conducting investigations to establish the cause of the stampede that left 39 others seriously injured.

Forty-six pupils were injured in the incident and two are in the Intensive Care Unit at the Kakamega County General.

Reports indicated that the class four and five pupils were running out of class at 5pm when the tragedy occurred.

Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha closed the school for a week to pave way for investigations.

Source and Image: https://www.kbc.co.ke/mass-for-pupils-who-died-in-kakamega-stampede-underway/