Eregi Girls High School in Kakamega County has been closed indefinitely after the students went on rampage demanding to be allowed to go home.
The closure which came on Wednesday, October 4, followed the hospitalization of more than 90 students in various hospitals in Kakamega county.
The school administration noted in a statement that the decision was made following a meeting at the institution with the county government representatives.
Further, the administration stated that they have allowed form one, two, and three students to have a one week break to allow investigations into the strange illness to continue.
However, form four students will continue with learning as they prepare for the upcoming Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams.
“The BOM, Ministry of Education officials, TSC representatives, and the school’s sponsor agreed to allow Form 1, 2, and 3 students to break temporarily and are expected to report back next week once the situation has been carefully assessed and necessary measures put in place to prevent any recurrence of a similar situation,” the statement read in part.
Also Read: Over 50 Students Hospitalized After Disease Outbreak
Updates From Kakamega County Government
The Kakamega County government health CEC, Bernard Wesonga, noted on October 3, that samples of blood, urine, and stool had been collected and sent to both the Kisumu laboratory and KEMRI Nairobi for extensive testing.
Moreover, Wesonga admitted that the unknown illness had caused panic and anxiety among parents and students in the school.
“The County government commits to ensure the safety and well-being of all students in learning institutions and assures that efforts will be made to create a conducive learning environment where students can thrive academically, free from disruptions and harm,” noted the statement from the administration.
Also Read: Mukumu Girls Students Ate Food Contaminated with Faecal Matter
Earlier on Tuesday, October 3, a section of parents of the girls stormed the school demanding answers from the school principal.
The parents demanded the release of their children claiming that the school had not yet notified them of the incident.
At the same time, the parents lamented that they had only learnt of their children’s hospitalization on the news.
What We Know About the Strange Illness so Far
According to the school administration, the strange illness that caused weakness in the joints of the girls, remained unknown and the hospitals continued to conduct tests.
Similarly, a statement by E-plus Ambulances Kenya, revealed that six ambulances and first responders were sent to the institution for swift evacuations.
“The involuntary movements affected both the upper and lower limbs of the students. The cause remains unknown.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and stand with the affected students and their families during this challenging time,” E-plus ambulances Kenya noted.
