Kenya’s Ministry of Education has closed down St Theresa’s Eregi Girls’ High School after a number of students were hospitalised over a mysterious illness.
This comes hours to a planned visit by the Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu to the school.
Education officials in Kakamega County decided to temporarily close the school on Wednesday after students went on a rampage.
They were demanding to be allowed to go home after 90 learners were admitted to various hospitals following an outbreak of a ‘strange illness.’
A statement by the County Government said that the Board of Management, Ministry of Education officials and the Teachers Service Commission held consultations before the decision was made.
“‘Form 1, 2, and 3 students were allowed to break temporarily and are expected to report back next week once the situation has been carefully assessed and necessary measures put in place to prevent any recurrence of a similar situation,” the statement reads in part.
Form 4 students who are due to begin their exams will remain in school.
On Wednesday, top county officials led by the County Executive Committee Member for Education, Science and Technology Bonface Okoth and his Health Services counterpart Benard Wesonga visited the school.
They said that the county government is committed to finding a solution to the health challenge.
According to Okoth, the incident resulted in more than 95 students being hospitalised.
He said blood samples from the affected students have been sent to the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) in Nairobi and Kisumu for further analysis.
He said the county government is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all students in learning institutions.
“Efforts will be made to create a conducive learning environment where students can thrive academically, free from disruptions and harm,'” he said.
He assured of the county government’s dedication to collaborating with all stakeholders to address unexpected issues that may emerge in learning institutions across the County.
On Monday, it was reported that students were hospitalised in various hospitals in Kakamega county over an undisclosed illness.
Sources privy to the situation told the Star that 30 students are admitted to Kakamega Level Five Hospitals, 20 to Shibwe Level Four Hospital and 12 to Iguhu Level Four Hospital.
A medic at Ihugu Hospital told the Star that initial laboratory tests had revealed that the students had elevated electrolytes, meaning that they had lost fluids.
Electrolytes are essential for basic life functioning, such as maintaining electrical neutrality in human body cells and generating and conducting action potentials in the nerves and muscles.
Prolonged or severe diarrhoea and sweating can result in the loss of electrolytes.