Several students from Nyabururu Girls National School ar reported to have been secretly admitted to hospital amidst claims of massive for food poisoning and corporal punishment that have put the school in bad light.
A spot check by a local media house at health facilities in the area revealed that several had been treated and discharged while others were still in hospital on intravenous fluids (IV).
Students at the institution are reportedly under strict instructions from the administration not to inform their parents of the worrying state of affairs and anyone who goes against this is subjected to severe corporal punishment.
One student disclosed that they “were threatened by the matron not to disclose the information to parents and guardians and those who tried to do so were reprimanded while those who complained of pain and diarrhoea were beaten by the school principal for allegedly pretending to be sick”.
“We are given bad food which is prepared from a dirty kitchen and that is why we have developed stomach pains and diarrhea,”added another.
Parent denied entry as medical officer confirms worrying state of affairs
Mr. Evans Bosire, a concerned parent who got wind of the situation was denied entry when he went to check on his daughter with teachers demanding to know who had informed him of the incident.
A medical officer at Nyangena Hospital who spoke to the press on condition of anonymity confirmed that at least 20 students had been brought to the facility and have been receiving medication from the hospital since Thursday when the students reportedly suffered from food poisoning.
Human rights activists, parents and a section of Kisii county leaders are now calling for the immediate closure of the institution so that parents can seek proper medical attention for their children.
Led by nominated MCA Joyce Ombasa and Eznas Nyaramba, they faulted the school management for allegedly trying to cover up the incident and accused the county education bosses of colluding with the school to keep it a secret.
They also urged the relevant authorities to take action against the school principal.