The death of a Form 2 student, Martin Mugambi, at Miangeni Internatuional School has left his family and the public with more questions than answers.
His parents received a brief and chilling call from the school on Monday evening: “Mtoto wenu amechukuliwa na polisi” (The police have taken your child).
Mugambi’s parents, who hail from Meru County, endured a restless night, waiting until the following day to make the long journey to Makindu.
But upon arrival at the school, they were met with a shocking lack of empathy. No director, principal, or deputy principal was present to receive them. Instead, the Board of Governors (BOG) chairperson was the one to deliver the devastating news:
They were told that Mugambi had been found dead in the school’s swimming pool.
His body had been moved to Makindu Sub-County Hospital as investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) got underway.
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The official statement from the school described Mugambi as appearing distressed on Sunday, February 9, while cleaning his classroom.
He was seen sitting quietly by the poolside on Sunday (1969) before leaving early.
His last known sighting was later that evening while washing his clothes. According to the school statement, By Monday morning, when the dormitory patron noticed he was missing, the school launched a search that ended in tragedy—his body was discovered floating in the pool.
However, when his parents arrived at the mortuary to view his body, they noticed something alarming: Mugambi had a swollen head and was bleeding from his right eye and nose.
These injuries raised serious doubts about the school’s explanation of how a drowning victim had injuries.
In a move that has fueled speculation, the school disabled comments on its official WhatsApp groups and social media pages on Monday just as news of Mugambi’s death began to spread.
Parents and students were left in the dark, with no communication from the administration until yesterday.
This lack of transparency has led to growing concerns that the school may be telling a different story.
At the end of Term 3 last year, he scooped second in his class with an A plain. He was also a class prefect and a talented performer who represented the school at the Kenya National Music Festivals in Eldoret.
By Joseph Mambili
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