A KCSE candidate succumbed after he was assaulted by guards and his schoolmates.The police in Kisumu are now conducting the investigations.
Stephen Olouch from Joel Omino Secondary School, died at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) on Friday last week, just three days after he was admitted to the ICU.
Philgona Adhiambo, claimed her son was assaulted for failing to pay school fees.”
“He had been sent home over school fees. I had just bought him a few basic things he required for the exams. I boarded a vehicle to our rural home in Ahero as he presided to his brother’s house in Nyalenda Estate where he lived,” she said.
“Before arriving home I received a call enlightening me that my son had collapsed.” She added
Ms Adhiambo wants a postmortem done to determine the cause of her son’s death and the perpetrators identified.
“The school management had sent my son home over fee arrears, just two weeks to exams. Since we had no money, my son agreed to go back to school wishing to beg the management to let him sit for the exam and clear the fees later on,” she said.
Nevertheless, Oluoch is said to have been restricted entry into the school compound by the guards who told him the principal, Mr Richard Nyayal, had ordered them not to permit in any student with fee balance.
Oluoch attempted to force his way into the compound and this led to a tussle with the guards and he was severely beaten. He managed to flee himself, ran and hid in a classroom.
A prefect then instructed him out because of the order the principal had issued on students with fee arrears.
“Oluoch confided in me that the angry prefect, banging his locker, shouted that his fees balance could feed the whole school for the remainder of the term,” said Samwel Omondi, Oluoch’s elder brother.
Oluoch is said to have attacked the prefect and this persuaded other prefects who landed on Oluoch with kicks and blows.
That is when one of them ambushed Oluoch with a piece of wood, causing serious wounds.
The principal had contacted police from Nyalenda Police Station who imprisoned Oluoch over assertions he had a roll of bhang.
After the police found out Oluoch had been wounded, they set him free without pressing any charges against him.
“It was while he was in police detention that I was called. The caller informed me that my son had been arrested but was in a lot of pain. They’d only given him painkillers,” Ms Adhiambo said.
“I went to the school and requested to know why I was not informed of my son’s arrest and the reason for it and instead I was issued with Oluoch’s suspension letter and informed that I should to appear with him before the board in two days.” She addeda
The principal acknowledged that Oluoch had been sent home for fees but withheld claims he was assaulted.
“Officials from the Ministry of Education visited the school and even wrote a report over the issue. You can get much information from that document,” The Principal said
The County Director of Education (CDE) Isaak Atebe said he had received a report about the boy’s health, but said there was no information regarding the alleged assault.
Nyanza Regional Police Coordinator Vincent Makoha said an inquest file has been opened on the issue. JOOTRH Superintendent Peter Okoth said Oluoch died as doctors tried to save his life.
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