President William Ruto on Thursday, March 12, made a surprise visit to Kapsabet School for the Deaf following a tragic septic tank collapse that killed one student and injured several others.
The president toured the institution alongside Stephen Sang, the Governor of Nandi County, and Julius Melly, the MP for Tinderet Constituency, to assess the situation and offer support to the grieving school community.
Authorities confirmed that one learner died while ten others were injured after falling into the septic tank within the school compound during the incident.
Shock After Student Dies in Kapsabet School Septic Tank Collapse as William Ruto Makes Visit. Photo: Courtesy.
The injured students were rushed to Kapsabet County Referral Hospital where they are currently receiving treatment.
During the visit, President Ruto expressed condolences to the affected families and assured the school community of government support, promising swift intervention to improve safety and rebuild damaged facilities.
“We have had the opportunity to look at your school, and I know you need some support. Because I have come here, I will leave Ksh5 million for reconstruction activities,’’ Ruto noted.
The incident comes months after another tragedy at Queen of Angels School, where a pit latrine collapsed and killed three pupils.
According to Nicolas Bitok, the MCA for Tapsagoi Ward, the bodies of the three children were later retrieved from the debris and moved to a mortuary.
The collapse happened suddenly while the pupils were near the facility, trapping them inside the structure before rescue efforts could reach them.
Local leaders indicated that the area in Turbo within Uasin Gishu County had experienced heavy rainfall for more than a week prior to the incident.
The prolonged downpours are believed to have weakened the structure of the latrine, possibly contributing to its collapse.
Concerns were also raised about the condition and maintenance of the facility, with officials noting that the latrine may have been in use for a long time without proper structural checks.
Authorities described the incident as a tragic accident and extended condolences to the affected families, the pupils, and the wider school community.
