The body of a Kajiunduthi Secondary School student was on Tuesday, July 25 found in Mara River in Tharaka Nithi County after the students staged a strike at around 9pm on Monday.
The students are said to have been caught up in the unrest forcing them to run towards a nearby river after police showed up at the scene to quell the protest. Some of the students sustained serious injuries while one met his demise.
Physical injuries were also visible on the student's body which intimated that a brawl ensued before his untimely death.
Following the incident, it is not immediately clear what led to the student's death, however his body was taken to Chuka Referral Hospital Mortuary pending investigations.
According to a parent present in the scene, the strike was triggered by simmering tensions between the administration and students over alleged mismanagement, which had reportedly resulted in a drop in academic performance.
He claimed that the principal was addressing the students before chaos erupted. Police officers from Muthambi Sub-County Police Station were immediately deployed to the institution to quell the protests.
Shortly after, teargas canisters were lobbed to disperse the students. Locals also claimed they heard gunshots which forced the learners to run towards the neighbouring villages to seek safety.
The devastating event sent chills down the spines of the parents who were seen camping outside the school’s main gate after the school administration and police denied them access.
“We have come to know the whereabouts of our children after we heard about the incident. Some of them have sustained injuries and tore their uniforms due to the commotion,' the parent said.
“It’s also painful to learn that one of the students lost his life. We are yet to identify the parent of the student,” one of the parents lamented.
The parents condemned the student's death and faulted the police for using excessive force. They also called for an investigation to establish the real cause of the student's death.
