12 children escape death after latrine collapses
A file photo of a pit latrine. Residents descended into the latrine and pulled out the children. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- It took the quick action of teachers and residents to save the lives of young learners.
- Residents descended into the latrine and pulled out the children.
At least 12 children escaped death narrowly after falling into a pit latrine at Moi's Bridge Baptist Bible Mission ECD School, Uasin Gishu County, on Thursday afternoon.
The children are said to have been taking shelter from heavy rains when the floor of the 10-metre deep toilet collapsed.
It took the quick action of teachers and residents to save the lives of the young learners.
Residents descended into the latrine and pulled out the children.
Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Johnston Ipara said officers had been sent to the school to assess the situation and begin investigations following the scary incident that caught teachers unawares.
“There are no casualties yet but the children are being treated in hospitals in the town. All of them are out of danger. This is probably a case of negligence but investigations are still going on,” Mr Ipara told the Nation.
Neighbours who responded to distress calls managed to rescue the children who were rushed to Soy Sub-County Hospital where they were treated and discharged.
Joseph Kiragu, a neighbour who coordinated the rescue operation, raised concern over safety of children in schools.
"The ministry should crack the whip to ensure children are assured of safety while in school. Some schools have substandard structures which pose danger to learners," said Mr Kiragu.
Anet Ndalo, an ECD teacher at the school, said she was with colleagues inside the staffroom when she heard a commotion outside.
"We managed, with the help of neighbours, to rescue the children and rushed them to hospital. All of them were treated and discharged," she said.
She said the floor of the latrine had just been renovated.
Soy Sub-County police boss Fanuel Nasio said investigations had been launched into the incident.
"Somebody must be held culpable for this. How can 12 people be allowed to enter a latrine at the same time?" he asked.
The incident comes barely a month after 14 pupils died and at least 39 others were seriously injured in a stampede at Kakamega Primary School, raising questions over the safety of learners in schools.
