- Njoro Girls’ High School has been closed indefinitely following protests over the death of a form four student
- Brenda Akinyi’s family raised concerns about the delay in treatment when she was reportedly sick at school
- Parents and residents protested outside the school, leading to the deployment of the police
Classes at Njoro Girls’ High School in Nakuru county have been suspended indefinitely following protest of parents and residents of the area regarding the death of a fourth form student.
Source: UGC
The decision to close the school was taken after protests erupted outside the school gates, with parents demanding accountability for the death of Brenda Akinyi.
Brenda died while receiving treatment at the Teaching and Referral Hospital Nakuru after being reported sick at school.
Why was Njoro Girls’ High School closed indefinitely?
With the tension rising, police officers were sent to the area to control the crowd and prevent the situation from getting worse.
By Tuesday, February 3, education officials intervened in efforts to restore order. The Nakuru County Director of Education confirmed that all students had been sent home as a precautionary measure while the authorities deal with the unrest.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and a post-mortem examination is scheduled for today to determine the cause of death and clarify the circumstances in which Brenda fell ill and later died.
Amid the protests, Brenda’s family came forward with concerns about how her illness was handled at school.
Did the Njoro Girls ignore the emergency care Brenda needed?
According to his mother, Millicent Anyango, the student had been ill for several days and complained repeatedly of persistent headaches but was given Brufen painkillers by the school nurse instead of being referred for further medical care.
The family said the condition was not treated promptly and that they were not notified in time to seek medical treatment.
They said they only got in touch after Brenda’s condition worsened, leaving them shocked and distraught.
“I was called to the school for work, but I learned from her friends that my sister was sick. I asked if the school authorities, including the deputy principal, matron and nurse, knew, and I was told they did. The child was sick for three days without eating, but all she was given was bruffen,” said Brenda’s brother, Allan Otieno.
“They were late in calling me so that I could take my daughter for urgent treatment. I am asking for help and a post-mortem examination to be done. She is not there and will not come back, but after knowing the truth, we can put her to bed,” the mother added.
However, the Nakuru county director of education dismissed the allegations of negligence, saying that, according to school records, Brenda was a sick child.
Source: Facebook
Did other students also die at Njoro Girls’ School?
Other parents who joined the protest claimed that the incident was not unique, claiming that three other students died in a similar situation at the school in 2023.
In 2023, a first-form student at the school died in mysterious circumstances after falling ill and being rushed to the hospital.
The school said Whitney Njoki complained of throat-related pain before being taken for treatment, where she later died.
However, his family questioned the explanation, saying he had no known health problems before joining the school.
They said the institution did not raise any health concerns during the weeks he was in the dormitory.
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