Kenya: Speculation as Candidate Dies Days After Chemistry Practical

Speculation has followed the death of a KCSE candidate in Nakuru County, days after the Chemistry practical at Barina Mixed Day Secondary School.

Victor Kiptoo, an 18-year-old from Majani Mingi village in Rongai, died while on the way to hospital.

The cause of death has not been established but the family says it may have to do with the chemicals used in the test.

CHEST PAINS

Mr Kiptoo’s father, Mr David Ng’eno, told the Nation that his son complained of chest pains and difficulty breathing when he returned home on Friday evening.

Mr Ng’eno said he took pain killers that were in the house but did not improve.

“When he left for school that morning he was in good health and ready for the exams but when he came back he looked sickly,” he said.

He said the condition of the second born son in a family of six deteriorated with time.

“When he woke up on Monday, I noted that his condition was worsening and decided to accompany him to school to monitor his progress,” he said.

“I Informed the head teacher, who asked me to wait until he finished the day’s paper.”

CONDITION WORSENS

Mr Ng’eno said he later took his son to a nearby dispensary for blood pressure and sugar level tests but these did not reveal what he was suffering from.

The facility referred him to Mogotio Sub-county Hospital after suspected he had tuberculosis.

Mr Ng’eno said he got more worried that evening as Mr Kiptoo started sweating profusely, coughed and struggled to breathe, so he rushed him back to the hospital. He was pronounced dead on arrival.

The father asked for the government’s help in providing a pathologist to establish the cause of his son’s death.

He said the teenage was disciplined and hardworking and wanted to become a doctor.

“I had much faith in him,” he said.

SPECULATION

The Nation established that the candidate who was diagnosed with pneumonia in September and that he was still under medication.

His uncle, Mr Ibrahim Silatei, acknowledged this but said the family suspected that his death was triggered by the chemicals.

“Even though he appeared healthy, he was still under medication. It is possible that the chemicals he was exposed to at school triggered the condition,” he said.

A student from the school, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed several students had complained of headaches.