St. Theresa’s Eregi Girls High School in Kakamega County has been shut down by the Ministry of Education (MoE) after 95 students were hospitalized over a mysterious illness that weakened their joints, rendering them unable to walk.
The school Board of Management (BOM), Ministry of Education (MoE) officials, Teachers Service Commission (TSC) representatives as well as the school’s sponsor have agreed to temporarily release the lower forms leaving only candidates preparing for the 2023 KCSE exams scheduled for late October.
They said that the students will return next week pending a thorough assessment of the situation and the implementation of preventive measures against any recurrence.
According to a statement released by the office of the Governor, blood samples from the affected students have been dispatched to the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) in Nairobi and Kisumu for further analysis while health officials vigilantly monitor the students’ progress in various hospitals in the region.
Kakamega County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Education, Science and Technology Dr. Bonface Okoth alongside CECM for Health Services Dr. Benard Wesonga and other key stakeholders, convened urgently at the school to deliberate on the situation.
Preliminary laboratory tests have shown that the students experienced electrolyte imbalances, likely due to fluid loss, a condition vital for maintaining the body’s basic functions.
By Viola Chepkemoi
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