19-year-old KCSE candidate dies during rehearsals

Arranged desks and chairs in a classroom [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

A 19-year-old KCSE candidate at Michael Wamalwa Secondary School in Trans Nzoia County has died mysteriously, just a couple of hours to the D-Day.

Nicholas Barasa felt uneasy during rehearsals and was rushed to Kiminini Health Center for medication but was soon confirmed dead by medics.

The school was left in a sombre mood following news of the candidate's death, with fellow candidates wailing in dismay.

The situation at her Birunda village home in Kiminini constituency was similar, as villagers turned up in large numbers to console the family.

Deceased's father 

Silas Wekesa narrated the ordeal to those who came over to console him, saying his son complained of a stomach ache and begun vomiting before he was rushed to the hospital.

He, however, said his son had never had any health complications and wondered what caused the sudden and tragic turn of events.

Mother to the deceased, Rhoda Wekesa described her now departed son as disciplined and industrious and whom she expected to turn over the fortunes of the humbled family.

“I felt he was the right person to get us on the right track since he was disciplined, focused and talented as well. I am lost for words, bear with me please. May the Almighty God remember us in this hard time,” she said amid sobs.

A human rights activist James Omaria called on the government to probe the matter and disclose their findings to the public.

The tragedy strikes amid other misfortunes where 12 girls from one school conceived during the long holiday occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic that crippled learning across the country last year.