A pupil has died and ten others have been hospitalised with injuries following the collapse of a septic tank at Kapsabet School for the Deaf in Nandi County on Thursday morning.
The pupils had gathered to watch the arrival of President William Ruto’s motorcade at the neighbouring Kapsabet Girls High School.
Nandi Central Sub-County Commander Maurice Okul confirmed that one pupil died upon arrival at Kapsabet County Referral Hospital.
“The injured pupil died at the hospital while the rest are undergoing treatment,” said Mr Okul.
The incident occurred while pupils were standing on top of the septic tank within the school grounds, waiting to catch a glimpse of the Head of State, who was due to visit Kapsabet Girls as part of his tour of Nandi County.
The two institutions are separated by a road less than five metres wide.
Rescue teams, teachers, police officers and residents rushed to the scene and began frantic efforts to pull the trapped pupils from the collapsed structure.
The deceased learner was among the eleven pupils who were initially rescued and rushed to Kapsabet County Referral Hospital, and among the two who were in critical condition.
Eyewitnesses said the pupils had been drawn to the school boundary by the approaching presidential motorcade as it headed to the neighbouring Kapsabet Girls.
“Screams and commotion filled the school compound moments after the structure collapsed, prompting teachers and other pupils to raise the alarm,” said Ms Mary Chelagat, who witnessed the incident.
Emergency responders, including police officers and county disaster management teams, dug through debris to reach the trapped children as anxious parents gathered outside the school seeking information about their safety.
Nandi County Executive Committee Member for Health, Dr Angline Kirui, confirmed the incident, stating that eight pupils were in stable condition, two were in critical condition, and one required specialised treatment.
“The pupils were standing on top of the septic tank watching events at neighbouring Kapsabet Girls, where President Ruto was expected to tour, when the slab caved in and trapped them,” said Dr Kirui.
She urged school administrators to conduct regular inspections of sanitation facilities to prevent similar incidents from recurring.
“School management must exercise extra caution to minimise such disasters, especially during the ongoing rainy season,” Dr Kirui said.
The incident has sparked fresh concerns about the safety of sanitation facilities in schools, particularly in institutions serving young learners and children with special needs.
Parents and residents called for thorough investigations to establish the cause of the collapse and determine whether the facility met required safety standards.
The county disaster management team, led by Laurine Cherono, responded to the scene and assisted in evacuating the injured pupils to the hospital.
“We ask the public to activate our emergency numbers and help us respond quickly to any calamities,” said Mrs Cherono.
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