By Kamundia Muriithi
A post-mortem on Kennedy Fundi, 18, the student of Kangaru School who died on March 11 this year after an alleged beating by a teacher has established the cause of death as due to a respiratory failure from severe pulmonary infection.
The autopsy report signed by Dr Daniel Zuriel, a consultant pathologist and dated April 15, 2019, noted excessive pus was found in the chest cavity infiltrating the heart and lungs.
The report noted that there was no evidence that trauma was involved in the death, as there was no fractures as alleged and no evidence of tissue injury at the site of the alleged beating.
“There is no evidence that the cause of the death in this young man was due to any other pathology than the above mentioned,” concludes the report.
Dr Zuriel represented Kangaru School while a Dr Muturi was present as the government pathologist during autopsy done on March 15, 2019.
Fundi passed on at the Nairobi Women’s Hospital where he had been referred to after his condition deteriorated.
He had first been admitted to Embu Children Hospital-Tenri.
His guardian Irene Ruguru said Fundi had revealed that his injuries started after being hit on the leg with a mop by a teacher for arriving to class late.
The Form Three orphaned student was a beneficiary of the Equity Bank’s Wings to Fly scholarship.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has since interdicted the teacher and the case is under investigations.
The autopsy now seems to absolve the teacher from blame that he hurt the boy leading to an illness and the death.
Fundi was buried on March 25, 2019 at his aunts’ home in Riandu village of Embu County where he was eulogised as brilliant, obedient, disciplined and hardworking.
Fundi’s schoolmates were not present during the burial neither was there a representative of Kangaru School rose to address mourners.
Equity Bank CEO Dr James Mwangi and Master Card President Reeta Roy sent messages of condolence to the family.
