A Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examination (KCSE) Candidate from St Martin Wendano Secondary School, Machakos county, drowned on Friday, November 24.
The boy who had just completed his last paper of the national test is said to have stopped with his friends at a dam to take selfies when the accident happened.
While confirming the tragic turn of events, Matuu sub-location assistant chief Raphael Musyoki said that the student slipped and fell into the dam while taking selfies.
“They are students at Matuu Wendano Secondary School and had just finished the KCSE exams. They stopped by the dam to take pictures and enjoy themselves. Unluckily one of the boys slipped and fell into the water and drowned,” he added.
According to reports, the boy was in a group of five students who decided to go for a photoshoot at the said dam before heading home.
“The five were taking pictures after completing their exams today. They were headed home from school and decided to take pictures unknown to them disaster would strike,” Musyoki said.
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However, the other four escaped after witnessing the incident leaving the deceased hopeless and alone.
“I was notified about the incident and informed police. We are trying to drain the dam as we search for the body,” he said.
Although well-wishers led an exercise to look for the boy’s body and rescue him, the attempt was unsuccessful since darkness invaded.
However, the rescue mission is expected to resume today, Saturday, November 25.
Other Reported Deaths Over 2023 KCSE Period
In Yatta Sub County, Machakos County, a 21-year-old student collapsed and died on his way home after sitting for his papers on Tuesday, November 7.
Jane Makau, the Yatta sub-county police commander said the incident happened at Kiumoni village, Yatta Sub County.
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The candidate was said to have died on the spot after he collapsed but real cause of the death was not immediately established.
Sadly, another candidate died on Tuesday, November 21, after a short illness in Siaya County.
According to the police, the 17-year-old was experiencing vomiting and diarrhea before being rushed to the Siaya Medical Hospital where she died while undergoing treatment.
“She passed on today at around 1350hrs at Siaya Medical Hospital where she had been admitted last night while complaining of severe diarrhea and vomiting. The said student was scheduled to sit for afternoon exams from 1400hrs,” a police report ready partly.
Notably, results from the laboratory revealed the girl had been suffering from kidney failure.
The County Director of Education said before the sudden illness, the girl had a history of poor health through the third term of school.
KCSE exams ended on Friday after running for almost a month.