Mukumu Girls High School, a troubled institution in Kakamega County, was permitted to reopen on May 8, 2023, following its closure due to the death of three students and a teacher.
School Principal Jane Mmbone confirmed that only Form Four students would return to school on the first day of reopening, with phased reopening to follow.
Phased Reopening and Strict Measures
The school would undergo a phased reopening with only Form Four students reporting on Monday.
Students would have to produce a medical report on their health status, which would be evaluated by the health doctors stationed at the school. Prayer sessions were also introduced every evening, with members of the clergy stationed at the institution.
On Tuesday, Form Threes would return to school, while Wednesday would be a day of prayer for the two classes.
Form Two and Form One student would report to school on Thursday and Friday, respectively. Saturday would be a day reserved for prayer, with clergy conducting prayers every evening thereafter.
Contaminated Water
The Ministry of Health later revealed that the mysterious disease that led to the closure of the school was caused by the consumption of contaminated water. The institution would only receive water from Kericho Water and Sanitation Company Limited as other sources were cancelled.
All students would undergo psycho-social counselling upon their return to school. The principal emphasized that all food had been incinerated in Bamburi, Mombasa County.
The affected stores were treated and cleaned, and new suppliers were brought in using the procurement procedure.
Government Intervention
Education CS Ezekiel Machogu redeployed the former principal and disbanded the entire board of the institution to allow the government to complete investigations.
The Kenya Red Cross, psychosocial counsellors, and medics were present at the school to offer support to the students.
Parents were advised to take their children to the hospital while they were at home, and students returning to school were required to bring medical reports that would be assessed by medics on the ground.