Deputy President William Ruto on Tuesday, February 4, visited the scene of the Wednesday Kakamega Primary School stampede tragedy that left 14 students dead and also paid a visit to the injured victims at the Kakamega Referral Hospital.
In a video published by the Daily Nation, Ruto indicated that the government would cater to all the expenses including medical and funeral expenses of the affected students.
“We shall provide finances that will take care of the hospital bills and burial expenses to the affected families.
“A committee has been put in place consisting of both national and county government officials to plan for their decent sendoff next week,” assured Ruto.
Ruto also stated that the government was keenly following up on the matter promising to bring additional medical experts whenever needed for the treatment of the injured students.
“We are devastated by the tragedy that has hit Kakamega Primary School this evening; our prayers, love, and thoughts to the families and relatives of the victims of the misfortune.
“The government has activated its emergency networks and medical specialists to attend to the affected. We guarantee our total support to ensure the affected learners receive utmost medical attention,” added Ruto.
The deputy president was accompanied by Education Cabinet Secretary George Mahoga, Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, and Basic Education PS Belio Kipsang.
On Tuesday morning, February 4, President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered a thorough investigation to establish the cause of the stampede.
The president further wished a quick recovery to the 38 pupils who sustained serious injuries and were rushed to Kakamega County Referral Hospital.
"President Uhuru Kenyatta last evening sent a message of comfort to the families of the children who lost their lives following a stampede at Kakamega Primary School.
"The president wished the injured children quick recovery and ordered for a thorough investigation to establish the cause of the unfortunate incident," read a statement from State House.
The unfortunate incident took place moments after the final bell rang indicating the end of the learning hours.
According to journalists who spoke to a number of pupils from the school after the incident, the stampede occurred after the children reportedly spotted a teacher headed towards their direction prompting them to run.
"The building, which has three floors, has a staircase on each side. One of the staircases is only used by teachers while the other is used by the pupils. The teachers monitor the children who are supposed to move out in a certain order.
"After some time, however, a teacher came from the meeting with a cane and on seeing this, the pupils started running and some fell down," narrated Citizen TV's Laura Otieno.
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