Siaya family seeks justice after Form Two student at Friends School Kamusinga died in a septic tank

A family from Siaya County is now calling for intensified investigations to unravel the circumstances that led to the death of their kin at Friends School Kamusinga on Sunday.

John Mark Ombok, a Form Two student at the school, reportedly fell into a septic tank, yet they were told that their kin died by suicide.

The family alleges a cover-up scheme by the school, which they accuse of negligence.

On Tuesday morning at the Life Care Morgue in Bungoma, the family of Jacinta Ndiege waited for the post-mortem report of their kin.

The 15-year-old died on Sunday after he fell into a septic tank within the school compound.

The family claims they were informed that the Form Two student died by suicide, claims which they say have been disputed by other students who witnessed the bizarre incident.

"There was a boy who said, 'We went to the toilet, we were queuing, and we were taking a long time. Then the teacher started chasing us with a stick, and we started running. John Mark stepped on the septic,” said Jacinta Ndiege, the mother to the deceased.

The uncle to deceased Evans Ndiege added, “They had claimed that the child had thrown himself into the pit, but when you go to the pit, clearly it is a case of negligence that cannot warrant a suicide case."

The family is now accusing the school management of negligence, calling on all investigative agencies to interrogate the matter and establish the safety parameters for students at the school.

"The school should come out and accept that they did not do their part in ensuring the safety of learners by keeping children in a school with a septic tank that is wide open without a cover,” Jacinta said.

Bungoma County Director of Education Pius Ng'oma on his part stated: "For the Friends School Kamusinga fraternity, we are very sorry, and to the parents as well. We shall give a full report once the investigations have been completed."

According to the autopsy report released on Tuesday, John Mark died due to a lack of oxygen secondary to inhalation of toxic fumes.

The family has since moved the body to Kisumu, pending burial plans.