Postmortem confirms pneumonia in Katoloni student’s death as Nakuru parents seek answers

A postmortem examination conducted at Montezuma Monalisa Funeral Home in Machakos town revealed that Nduku died from pneumonia.

A postmortem on a Form Three student who died over the weekend shortly after falling ill at Katoloni Secondary School in Machakos county has confirmed that she succumbed to pneumonia.

The family said they were informed that Consolata Nduku had suddenly taken ill at school and was rushed to Machakos Level 5 Hospital for treatment, but she was pronounced dead on arrival at the emergency unit.

“This is a person who had no underlying issues, and she never said she was sick. We were never informed. The only call we got was that Nduku is sick, and the next minute Nduku is dead,” her grandmother said on Sunday, shortly after her death.

“So we are asking so many questions, and we believe the police, the DCI and the people concerned will give us a comprehensive report on what has happened,” she told the media at her home on the outskirts of Machakos town.

Answers came on Tuesday after a post-mortem examination was conducted at Montezuma Monalisa Funeral Home in Machakos town.

The grief-stricken family, alongside members of the school fraternity represented by Parents Teachers Association (PTA) officials, witnessed the exercise and, amid heavy hearts, accepted the findings.

“The doctor told us pneumonia had infested the lungs. Nothing else was discovered,” PTA chairperson Titus Mutuku said.

“We say sorry to the family because this is a calamity that has struck them unexpectedly. They had a lot of hope in the child.”

Family spokesperson and an uncle to the girl Alphonse Muli said it appeared his niece had been affected by pneumonia for several days before full-blown symptoms manifested on Sunday, by which time it was too late to save her.

“There’s nothing much we can do at this point. All I ask is that we work together with the school because we are not done educating our children. All I would like to ask is that if a child appears unwell, let them be released to the parent at the earliest possible time,” he added.

“We have had many cases where parents are called when their child is already gone, and it is not good for a parent to be informed only at the final moments.”

On Sunday, Nduku’s heartbroken grandmother, Faith Ndunge, said it took time to secure transport before her granddaughter was rushed to hospital because most vehicles were filled to capacity during the early morning rush hour.

“I asked my relatives if they had found a car, and they said they had. We met the team taking her to hospital on the way and travelled together. When we reached the hospital, my child was no more. She was already dead,” Ndunge narrated amid sobs.

Meanwhile, in Nakuru county, another family is mourning the sudden death of their son under unclear circumstances on Monday morning at Moi Comprehensive School.

The Grade 9 pupil allegedly collapsed and was rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Angry parents stormed Nakuru Level 5 Hospital and, in a dramatic protest, wheeled the body to the school compound amid wails, demanding answers from the school administration over the boy’s death.

His mother, Lilian Moraa, said her son was in good health when he left home that morning.

“I normally open the gate for him, but because it was raining, I told him I could not go out. So he went and opened the gate, returned the keys and bid me goodbye,” she said.

The father, Fred Nyang’o, said that at 8:45am they received a call asking them to go to the school and, upon further inquiry, were informed that their son had fainted.

A relative said another pupil told them their son had collapsed and hit his head on a concrete floor.

Hospital officials said teachers brought the pupil to the facility when he was already dead.

Police officers took more than an hour to calm the agitated parents before the body was returned to the mortuary.

Officials said investigations have commenced to establish the circumstances surrounding the death.

The twin tragedies have reignited debate over whether policies guiding healthcare in schools should be revisited to better safeguard learners under the institutions’ care.