Kakamega Primary School stampede: Tears and sorrow as funeral service for pupil is held

From right: Sports CS Amina Mohammed, Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala and Nominated Senator Naomi Shiyonga at Kakamega Jamia Mosque during the burial Service of Nailah Kiverenge, one of the 14 pupils who died in the Monday Stampede at Kakamega Primary School. [Mumo Munuve/Standard]

There was grief at Jamia mosque in Kakamega town on Wednesday during a funeral service of Nailah Kiverenge, 10, who was among the 14 pupils who died following a stampede at Kakamega Primary School on Monday.

Nailah died while trying to save his younger brother, Takirr Kiverenge, who went to pick her, so that they could walk home together.

The incident took place at 4.40pm involving class four and five pupils who are housed on the first and second floor of the three storey building.

A total of 14 pupils died and 46 injured. 37 pupils were treated and discharged on Monday night. Three of them are still fighting for their life at the intensive Care Unit (ICU), three others are in surgical wards and three others admitted at the general wards.

Mourners wept as the casket bearing the remains of the pupil made their way to the mosque at 12pm.

Relatives and friends paid their last respects to the late Nailah, describing her as a jovial girl whose dreams of becoming a medical doctor in the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) had been cut short by the untimely death.

Ibrahim Kiverenge, Nailah’s father told the mourners that he last talked to his children on Sunday night but on the fateful day, they left for school when he was still asleep.

"Every day when she wakes up, Nailah always bids me goodbye before going to school. But on this day she just woke up, took his younger brother and went to school. She did not talk to anyone. At 5pm, her mother was informed of the accident and I went to school. I did not find her there or at the hospital,” said Mr Kiverenge.

Mr Kiverenge said he rushed to the school but he didn’t find them save for a shoe belonging to Nailah, books and her school bag scattered on the floor.

He said they then went to the Kakamega Teaching and Referral Hospital but didn’t see them at the Accidents and Emergency section where other pupils were receiving first aid.

“My heart started pumping very first when I didn’t see her. A security guard told me that a total of 13pupils had been taken to the mortuary and we rushed there. When we opened the door, I could see my daughter lying on the floor. I had just admitted her to the school three weeks ago,” he recalled.

“I thought she was just sleeping and she will in due time wake up, but that was never to be. She wanted to become a doctor in the military but death has cut short her dreams,” said Kiverenge amidst tears.

Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed, Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala and his nominated counterpart Naomi Shiyonga, Ikolomani MP Bernard Shinali, Kakamega County Assembly minority leader David Ndakwa and Amani National Congress (ANC) youth leader Emmanuel Buchichi attended the funeral.

Amina Mohamed, Sports CS and a close friend of the Kiverenge’s family said it was painful losing young children who had a promising future.

“It’s so painful to the parents of the 14 lost lives and especially the mothers who endured the pain of giving birth like me. It’s disheartening and the only thing we can give the affected families is comfort and prayers,” said Amb. Mohammed.

The CS asked the parents of Kakamega Primary School to stop speculations on what might have caused the stampede but wait for an official report from the police when investigations will be over.

Ms Shiyonga, nominated senator said the country must have a dialogue and relook on the existing safety standards of classes both in public and private schools so that a similar occurrence doesn’t happen again.

Shiyonga said the existing safety standards which were first enacted in 2008 are now obsolete and need amendment, adding that with the 100 per cent transition, the government should invest more in the general infrastructure and building of ultra-modern classes in all public schools in the country.

Mr Shinali, the Ikolomani MP said he has inspected the building that was housing the pupils and discovered it was not constructed to the required standards, saying the contractor should be held responsible over the incident.

“The building doesn’t have emergency exits and even the main entry points are very narrow. Such a building is supposed to have several entry and exit points so that in case of an emergency like a fire or what happened here on Monday, we don’t have many fatalities and that even evacuation is easier,” said Shinali.