A family is in mourning following the demise of their child who also topped the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) in Meru County.
According to a report by The Standard on Sunday, May 3, Hillary Muriungi Kaume, who sat for KCPE in 2018 and garnered 442 marks, succumbed to complications related to a brain tumour while undergoing surgery at Nairobi Hospital.
A member of his family, Elias Mutuma, confirmed that the boy passed away on Friday, May 1.
"It is true he has died. We are now making arrangement to bring the body back home for burial," stated Mutuma.
Kaume had joined Alliance High School but his education was interrupted when he got diagnosed with the tumour in 2019.
He was hospitalised at Nairobi Hospital where a successful surgery was carried out and radiation treatment was administered to him.
His treatment was going fine and he was poised to return to his dream school but another test revealed that he had another brain tumour before he could be discharged.
The tumour was also successfully removed but doctors recommended he seeks treatment abroad but Covid-19 pandemic made it impossible.
Up until his death, the boy's treatment had attracted a bill of Ksh10 million with his parents, Mercy and Mukiira Kaume, managing to only settle Ksh5.5 million.
They are, therefore, appealing for well-wishers to help them settle the balance as burial plans continue.
His body is set to be laid to rest on Wednesday, May 6, in Kithoka, Mery County. He had sat for his KCPE in 2018 at Fred’s Academy in Meru.
