Blame Game as Family, School Differ on Njoro Girls Student’s Death

An 18-year-old student at Njoro Girls Senior School, Brenda Akinyi, died last Saturday after reportedly being denied timely medical attention for an illness, prompting accusations of negligence against the school administration.

Akinyi was admitted to Nakuru Teaching and Referral Hospital with a blood infection, where she later passed away. Her mother, Millicent Anyango, claims the school failed to act promptly when Akinyi first showed signs of illness, which could have prevented the tragedy. 

According to Ms Anyango, she learned of her daughter's condition not from the school, but through her son, Allan Otieno, who worked as a casual labourer at the institution. Otieno was told by students that Akinyi had been too ill to attend classes for three days and was confined to her dormitory.

When Ms Anyango attempted to contact the school about her daughter's health, she says she was met with silence and an interrogation rather than genuine concern. Afterward, the deputy principal allegedly reacted angrily upon learning that Otieno, a non-staff member, had shared information about Akinyi's condition and subsequently dismissed him from his job. 

By the time Akinyi was taken from the dormitory, she was unable to walk or speak. Ms Anyango carried her to Njoro Sub-County Hospital, where she was stabilised before being transferred to Nakuru Teaching and Referral Hospital, where she died shortly after.

The family insists that Akinyi had no significant health problems, apart from an eye condition that was managed with spectacles. They described her as a well-disciplined and ambitious student, preparing for her Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams with hopes of studying journalism.

Her death has sparked protests in Njoro, with residents accusing the school of neglecting its duty of care. Police were deployed to manage the unrest, as demonstrators called for accountability. 

“If a student complains of illness and is ignored, that is negligence,” said one protester.

Education officials, however, have defended the school’s actions. Nakuru County Director of Education, Vitoria Mulili, said that Akinyi had a history of illness and that the school nurse had treated her several times before her condition worsened. 

“To the best of our knowledge, there was no negligence. The school did what it could,” Ms Mulili said, noting that a report from a quality assurance team has been submitted to the Ministry of Education.

A post-mortem examination has been scheduled to determine the cause of Akinyi's death.