Mukumu Girls Face Tough Reopening Conditions Including Prayers

The entrance of Mukumu Girls High School in Kakamega
The entrance of Mukumu Girls High School in Kakamega
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Mukumu Girls High School

Troubled Mukumu Girls High School in Kakamega County was allowed to reopen on Monday, May 8, after its closure over the death of three students and a teacher. 

Speaking to the media, school principal Jane Mmbone affirmed that the institution would undergo phased reopening with only form four students reporting on Monday. 

The students would also be required to produce a medical report on their health status; upon which will be assessed by health doctors stationed at the school. 

Mmbone also pointed out that prayer sessions were introduced every evening as members of the clergy would be based in the institution. 

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale (centre) tours the Sacred Heart High School Mukumu on Friday, March 31, 2023.
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale (centre) tours the Sacred Heart High School Mukumu on Friday, March 31, 2023.
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Boni Khalwale

"On Tuesday, we will receive Form Threes and on Wednesday, the school will have a day of prayer for the two classes. On Thursday and Friday, Form Two and Form One students will report to the school respectively.

"On Saturday, it will be a day reserved for prayer. Afterward, there will be clergy who will be conducting prayers every evening," she noted.

Further, the institution would only receive water from Kericho Water and Sanitation Company Limited as other sources were cancelled.

All students would also undergo psycho-social counselling upon reporting. The principal reiterated that all the food was incinerated in Bamburi, Mombasa County.

"We have groups from Kenya red cross, psychosocial counselling, and medics. As the students were at home, we requested the parents to take their children to the hospital. So they're reporting back with a medical report which will also be assessed by medics on the ground.

"We followed the procurement procedure and brought in new suppliers and expect today to receive the maize and beans. We have the public health officers to ascertain whether the food is safe. The affected stores were treated and cleaned," she indicated.

Education CS Ezekiel Machogu redeployed the former principal and disbanded the entire board of the institution to allow room for the government to conclude investigations.

Later, the Ministry of Health noted that the mysterious disease was caused by the consumption of contaminated water.

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu speaking to the press during his visit to Mukumu Girls High School on April 14, 2023.
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu speaking to the press during his visit to Mukumu Girls High School on April 14, 2023.
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Ministry of Education
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