UPDATE:
Deputy President William Ruto visited Kakamega Primary School where he condoled with the families. He promised that the government would offer counselling sessions to all affected learners, parents and teachers.
He further announced that a probe into the tragedy would seek to find out whether it was a structural flaw or another mishap that caused the deadly stampede. Ruto called for speedy investigations to ensure such a tragedy did not happen again. In addition, the Deputy President disclosed that the government would foot the bill for the funerals of 14 pupils who died and medical bills for the 38 injured.
"We must get to the bottom of whether it is the structure of the building or some other school mishap that happened or whatever it was. We are giving our security team time to give us the full report so that we can ensure that what happened in this school can never happen again," he stated.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has ordered a thorough investigation to unearth the cause of a stampede in Kakamega Primary School, Kakamega County that left 14 pupils dead on Monday, February 3.
The president further expressed his hope for a quick recovery of 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," a statement from State House read.
The stampede took place moments after the final bell indicating the end of the school-day rang.
Reports indicated that some pupils fell on a section of a staircase at the school and were ran over by more students running out.
Whatever triggered the stampede is yet to be established, with Kakamega Central Police Commander David Kabena promising to get to the bottom of the matter.
While others claimed the pupils were simply in a rush to get home, a report by Citizen TV alleged that a teacher was caning some pupils causing other pupils to hurriedly scamper away, sparking the stampede on the staircase.
Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha condoled with the affected families as he dispatched Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang to Kakamega to follow up on the matter.
“The loss of a child is very painful. My condolences to parents who have lost their children. We want to find out why we had a stampede in the school.
"PS Belio Kipsang will be in the school tomorrow. We will find out what happened and action will be taken,” he told reporters on Monday, February 3.
Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya had disclosed that one more child had died after the stampede at Nala Nursing Home, raising the death toll to 14 from the initially reported figure of 13.
Two children were admitted at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Kakamega County Referral Hospital.
