Mukumu Deaths – State-Funded Edu Afya Scheme to Make Sh1.2 Million Payout

The government has announced a Sh1.2mn payout under a State-funded insurance scheme to compensate families of three students who died at Mukumu Girls High School.

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu said Wednesday the Sh400,000 payout per family will be expedited.

"The deceased families are entitled to a Group Life Insurance Cover compensation at Sh400,000 per student, from Edu Afya Life Insurance Policy. The requisite forms have been completed and forwarded for processing and we will pursue expeditious payment," said Machogu.

He made the announcement even as it emerged families of the students who succumbed to an epidemic linked to food poising at the Kakamega-based school will wait longer for justice after a preliminary probe yielded no incriminating evidence.

Machogu suggested those accused of negligence including Former Principal Fridah Ngalo might be off the hook as the citing insufficient evidentiary threshold to pin them down.

He hastened to add that the multi-agency team was still investigating the matter.

"The multi-agency team has been getting two reports in a week, and as of now we have not got any report that make it culpable for us to pin down any individual particularly on the level where we think we should take anyone to court," he said.

Machogu in response to questions by Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale who had sought information on progress made allow the resumption of learning.

Due to lack of criminal evidence to charge the ex-principal alongside the school board over food poisoning incidences, Ngalo has since been transferred to the provincial director's office in an undisclosed region.

"She is due to retire in December. We gave her, as we are doing investigation, some soft landing at the provincial director's office for the time being because she has 6 months to retire," Machogu said.

Corrective measures

Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruyoit questioned Machogu on measures the ministry had put in place to ensure that no lives are lost in learning institutions.

"A life of a student is one too many already and it should gather the collective rage the ministry. If guidelines were in place what caused the breach that led to the deaths?" posed Cheruyoit.

The Senate instituted a inquiry after three students and a teacher died in April following what was later described as a gastroenteritis outbreak.

Machogu said that due to conflict of interest, school administrators will not be allowed to supply food commodities to public secondary schools even as the ongoing investigation seeks to establish whether the transferred principal interfered with procurement.

"If we find that it was the principal who was supplying food then for sure we will be able to take action," Machogu said.

Based on the recommendations of the multi-agency team, the Ministry of Education has set aside Sh16 Million to set up a new purified water station as a part of mitigation measures.

The ministry also moved to destroy about 73 tons of contaminated cereals under the supervision of the National Environment Management Authority.

"To avert the risk of potential consumption of contaminated food and water in schools, the Ministry is in consultation with Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) to conduct regular food and water tests across schools in the country," the Education CS stated.

School managers will be required to adhere to a reviewed manual on safety standards in schools to ensure safe and healthy conditions in the learning institutions.

"After the unfortunate incident in Mukumu Girls High School, the Ministry of Education has instituted a nationwide nationwide campaign on the enforcement of the manual," Machogu stated.