Who or what was responsible for the demise of Emmanuel Kirimi remains a perplexing enigma. The circumstances surrounding the death of this young soul remain shrouded in uncertainty. Emmanuel, a recently admitted Form One student at Kilungu Boys High School in Kitui, tragically lost his life under mysterious circumstances.
Hailing from Kitengela, his family is fervently seeking justice for their son, who was purportedly admitted to the hospital a mere 10 days after commencing his high school journey. The unfortunate incident unfolded on January 25, where the school attributed his passing to a ‘stomach-related illness.’
According to the school principal, the sequence of events leading to Emmanuel’s demise unfolded when he requested a classmate to accompany him to the restroom. Suddenly, his condition worsened, rendering him unconscious. Two teachers promptly rushed him to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
However, Emmanuel’s family harbors suspicions about the veracity of the school’s account, contending that their son was in good health on the day of admission. They allege that the school administration is concealing details, asserting that Emmanuel fell victim to severe bullying within the school.
Joshua Kaimenyi, Emmanuel’s father and a pastor, received an urgent call while ministering in Isinya, Kajiado, notifying him of his son’s sudden illness. Despite rushing to the school upon the call, he arrived to the heartbreaking news of his son’s demise. The school claimed they had attempted to save Emmanuel’s life, asserting that he had been grappling with stomach complications for days, and oral medication had been administered.
Upon viewing the body at the morgue accompanied by Emmanuel’s aunt, they observed excessive bruises on the forehead, inconsistent with the school’s narrative of a ‘stomachache.’ It was revealed that Emmanuel was initially taken to a private hospital, Winesa Medical Center, where he was declared dead at 10:40 am, before being transferred to Kilungu Public Hospital.
The family is now vehemently protesting the school’s handling of their son’s case, suspecting it to be the catalyst for his untimely demise. They question the delayed disclosure of Kirimi’s alleged health issues and the school’s withholding of information regarding the private health facility.
Amidst conflicting stories and inconsistencies in the timeline provided by the school and the two hospitals, the family is in profound distress. The body has been moved to Chiromo mortuary for a post-mortem examination, with detectives launching an investigation to ascertain the exact cause of Emmanuel’s death.
In response to the family’s allegations, Charles Nyakundi, Makueni County Director of Education, urges patience, suggesting waiting for the post-mortem results before accusing anyone of foul play.
