Police probing death of minor at Gilgil Hills school, samples taken for toxicology analysis

Police are investigating the death of a three-year-old who died at Gilgil Hills school on Friday last week.

The minor, Faiz Faraj, allegedly died after falling into a fish pond.

According to Nakuru County Criminal Investigating Officer Samuel Ngeiwa, several people had recorded statements over the incident, though no arrest had been made.

“We have taken statements from all involved parties. At school, 5 teachers have recorded statements, and also the fish pond attendant,” he told the press on Monday.

The officers are still taking statements from parties, staff at the hospital where the minor was taken.

“The post-mortem has been done, but the process is not yet complete. Some samples have been taken to the government chemist for toxicology analysis,” he said.

On Monday, gunshots and screams rent the air in Gilgil after irate parents and members of the public tried to storm the school.

Anti-riot police fired in the air and lobbed tear gas canisters to disperse the protesters, who stormed the school on Tuesday.

This came as police said that they were still investigating the incident, though no one had been arrested following the death on Friday last week.

The family accused the school of issuing controversial statements on the death of the minor, with postmortem reports indicating that he died from lack of oxygen.

Gilgil Member of Parliament Martha Wangari said that all institutions and individuals entrusted with the care of children must exercise the highest levels of vigilance, responsibility, and accountability at all times.

She noted that the safety of children was not negotiable, adding that it was imperative that all schools review and strengthen their safety protocols to ensure that such a tragedy never occurred again.

“No parent should ever have to bury their child, especially when that child is entrusted to what should be a safe and secure environment,” she said.

The legislator termed the loss as very painful, given the tender age of the child and the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Area MCA Rose Njoroge termed the incident as painful not only to the parents but to members of the public and parents from the institution.