Murang'a Grade 9 pupil dies after gate collapses on him

A 15-year old Junior Secondary schoolboy  has died in Murang'a County after the concrete school gate collapsed on him.

According to Murang'a South Deputy County Commissioner Gitonga Murungi, the boy who was schooling at Gikomora Primary and Junior Secondary School and in Grade 9 died on the spot in the Tuesday evening incident.

"The body has since been identified by next of kin to be that of Francis Gichuhi aged 15 years and who was in Grade 9 at Gikomora Primary School and Junior Secondary School," Mr Murungi said.

Terming the incident as ‘devastatingly sad’, Mr Murungi reported that "the child who was in the company of the rest of the learners were heading home after school hours".

Investigations, the administrator said, have been commenced to determine how the wall collapsed, from what force and how it ended killing only that boy.

"Preliminary investigations indicate that the boy was slightly ahead of the rest of the other pupils...unfortunately had part of the gate wall collapse on him," Mr Murungi said.

He added that "we identify with all those asking for more clarity in the accident...we perfectly empathize..we know many are asking how and why... investigations will answer those questions by close of January 18, 2025".

Maragua Assistant County Commissioner Joshua Okello who visited the scene accompanied by Scene officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations said "face value evidence depicts an unfortunate accident".

He said "it appeared to be cruel fate timing that only picked on the boy".

Mr Okello said "this makes us very sad...we cannot even explain how that wall decided to go down just when the boy was on its collapse coordinates...This is timing is the one making us have difficulties expressing ourselves".

He said the body was removed to Murang'a Level 5 Hospital mortuary for autopsy.

"We as a government will stand with this family. We will keep in touch both spiritually and materially," Mr Okello said.

Maragua MP Ms Mary wa Maua also visited the scene and called for immediate inspection of the school's infrastructure.

Ms wa Maua revealed that the school had recently suffered a tragedy when a teacher collapsed and died while in class.

"We want to know the safety state of the concrete that establishes the school's buildings. We also want the exercise extended to other schools. It is a sad day for me as a mother to be called in the evening to be given such distressing news in my constituency," she said.

She added that the school needs prayers to convince the spirit of death that appears to be roaming in the school to suspend any more tragedies. 

Murang'a Director of Education Anne Kiilu said "investigations have commenced regarding the death".

Ms Kiilu said it is hard to come to terms with the loss "but our God will comfort all affected including the broader family of the education sector".

It has been a bad New Year for Murang'a County's education sector since it has now recorded four deaths affecting pupils in the past one week.

Besides the boy who was killed by the school wall, Ian Mwangi Macharia, a student at Igikiro Secondary School died on the spot on January 8, 2025 after the motorbike that was ferrying him collided with a train in Murang'a South.

The rider was taken to Maragua level Four hospital in critical condition.

On the same date, Alex Githii aged 13 years and who was a Grade 9 pupil at Maragua Primary and Junior Secondary School died in what Deputy County Commissioner Mr Murungi, said "appeared to be suicide by hanging".

A day earlier, a Grade 9 girl had been found defiled, murdered and dumped in a thicket at Wambwe village in Mathioya constituency.

Ms Kiilu urged the society to pray for the safety of pupils saying it is hard enough to mourn four deaths against pupils in the past one week.