The unfortunate accident that occurred at Kakamega Primary School on Monday, February 3, leaving 14 students dead caused grief for many parents who lost their angels that day.
To Irene Ambundo who is an Administration Police officer at the Kakamega AP headquarters, this was more than a tragedy that robbed her of a nine-year-old daughter.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, a source close to Irene indicated that the young Elizabeth Prudence lost her life after the nasty accident that also left Irene’s youngest son nursing serious injuries at the Kakamega Referral Hospital.
The source further stated that Irene was a heartbroken mother who also lost her husband in a tragic road accident in September 2019.
“This is more than saddening to Irene. Being left by a husband and a daughter and an injured son fighting for his life in hospital is the worst thing anyone would wish.
“We are just sticking around her to give comfort at this hard moment,” remarked the source.
Speaking to Daily Nation on Thursday, February 6, the heartbroken mother could not hide her sorrow.
The young officer narrated the events of the day that ended in the tragedy, indicating that the day started well for the family as she bid goodbye to her children, who she saw off in the morning of the fateful day and left them in the hands of a police driver who drove them to school.
“In the evening, I received a call from the same driver who had escorted them to school, telling me that pupils at Kakamega Primary School had collapsed and several feared dead.
“I rushed to the school and was among the first people. At the tuition block, we realised several children lying unconscious but my children were not among them,” remarked Irene.
The officer stated that she moved upstairs and met her son, Bramwell, crying and limping claiming that his sister, Elizabeth had been injured.
She would later learn the sad news of her daughter's death at Kakamega Referral Hospital.
On Tuesday, February 4, Deputy President William Ruto announced that the government would cater for all expenses for the burial of the 14 victims.
Ruto also indicated that the government would cater for the medical expenses of the injured children who were undergoing treatment.
On Friday, February 7, various leaders led mourners at Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega County in bidding farewell to the departed children.
