Tensions ensued at Chesamisi Boys High School on Tuesday after the sudden death of 17-year-old Eugene Wekesa, a Form Four candidate from Kamukuywa in Kimilili Sub-County, Bungoma County.
The student’s family demanded answers from school officials amid allegations of delayed response and negligence.
The grieving family, led by Eugene’s paternal uncle, Samuel Makari, arrived at the school seeking an audience with Principal Protus Ndombi, the boarding master, class teacher, and school nurse.
According to the family, key staff members were reportedly absent from the compound during the confrontation.
Eugene reportedly fell ill early Monday morning, March 16, 2026. His father, David Wekesa, received a call from the school at 4:50 a.m. alerting him that his son’s condition was deteriorating. He instructed the school to transport Eugene to a health facility in Kimilili town.
En route, near Maeni area, Wekesa discovered his son is unresponsive on the floor of the school van, bleeding from the nose. He transferred Eugene into his car and rushed him to Lugulu Mission Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The school van reportedly did not follow them to the hospital or provide further updates, according to the family.
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Family members allege that Eugene began feeling unwell as early as 1 a.m., but the class teacher contacted them nearly four hours later, raising concerns about delays in medical intervention. Eugene reportedly had no known chronic illnesses, intensifying questions about the cause of death.
During Tuesday’s protest at the school, students left classrooms to observe the commotion. A relative said, “All we want is the nursing officer to tell us what he was treating so that we can include it in our sibling’s eulogy.”
Principal Protus Ndombi, in a brief phone interview, expressed condolences, stating, “I wish to tender my condolences to the family and the school for losing such a bright child. What I wish to share with you is not something we can speak on phone.”
The family, however, disputes claims that a full report has been provided, vowing to seek transparency and accountability.
Eugene’s body remains at Lugulu Mission Hospital morgue, with burial scheduled for Friday in Kamukuywa, Kimilili Sub-County.
The incident has reignited concerns over emergency medical protocols and student welfare in boarding schools, especially during critical exam periods. Parents are calling for stricter guidelines to ensure timely medical attention and protect the wellbeing of students.
By Godfrey Wamalwa
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