Three young pupils have died and several others injured after a latrine collapsed at Queen of Angels Primary School in Kaptebee, Uasin Gishu County, on Thursday morning.
The tragic incident occurred when the toilet floor caved in while Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) learners were using the facility, following days of heavy rainfall.
Uasin Gishu County Commissioner Dr. Edison Nyale confirmed the deaths, stating that four children were pulled from the debris, but three succumbed to their injuries while being rushed to Turbo Sub-County Hospital.
The fourth child is receiving treatment along with other injured pupils.
“The floor of the school toilet collapsed, trapping learners beneath the debris,” Dr. Nyale said, as rescue teams from the National Youth Service (NYS), the Uasin Gishu Emergency Fire Department, and local volunteers worked tirelessly at the scene.
The school, a Catholic-sponsored private institution, has been temporarily closed as investigations begin. Education officials and local leaders rushed to the scene to offer support and assess the damage.
“This is a heartbreaking incident,” said Professor Thomas Kipkurgat, Chairman of the County Education Board. “Measures must be taken immediately to ensure our children’s safety at school.”
The bodies of the three girls were transferred to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) morgue after their parents were notified.
Fr. Mathew Too, Education Secretary for Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Eldoret, described the collapse as a sudden and devastating accident.
Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii offered his condolences and announced a full investigation into the cause. He also called for an immediate nationwide assessment of school sanitation infrastructure.
“This tragedy is a wake-up call,” he said. “We must protect our children.”
