Shock as KCSE candidate collapses, dies after sitting morning paper

The Portrait of the late Austin Agumba, a form four KCSE candidate at Otieno Oyoo high school in Kisumu county who died under mysterious circumstance.PIC BY COLLINS ODUOR

Kisumu; Kenya: A school in Kisumu is still reeling in shock following a mysterious death of a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidate.

Austin Agumba of Otieno Oyoo High School, died shortly after sitting his morning papers on Friday.

Conflicting theories as to the cause of the death have emerged as the story changes depending on witnesses’ accounts.

School head teacher, Evans Ndago, said Agumba collapsed while studying in his classroom.

“His colleagues called us that he had collapsed and fainted, however, on arrival, we found him lying unconscious and then assembled the first aid team to resuscitate him,’’ Ndago said.

He adds: “On realising that the first aid was not bearing fruits, we took him to the nearby Rabuor Dispensary where he died a few minutes later”. However, James Otieno, a student, had a different story.

He claimed Agumba was allegedly involved in an argument with a colleague before he died.

“His colleague slapped him on the face and he fell down and fainted. He was later carried by about 15 students to the dispensary,’’ he claimed.

However, Mr Ndago has disputed these claims.

Nyanza Regional Coordinator of Police, Charles Narangwe, said Agumba collapsed after sitting his examination and was confirmed dead on arrival at the dispensary.

Already dead

However, when contacted, the dispensary said the student was brought dead to the facility by colleagues.

“There was nothing we could do since he was already dead when he was brought here,’’ said Victoria Atieno, the Clinical Officer who was on duty then. At home in Alendu, Agumba’s family is still in shock and slowly coming to terms with the death of their son.

“I met two of his teachers on my way from a nearby borehole, who and told me that Agumba was not feeling well and needed our attention. My parents and I then accompanied them to the dispensary only to find him dead,” said Calvins Agumba, brother to the deceased.

According to Pamela Kola, Agumba’s stepmother, the family last saw the deceased on October 10, during school prayer day for the candidates.

Back at school, the students are still in shock after losing the aspiring electrical engineer, whom they said was in perfect health.

“He had no signs of illnesses and had not complained of any weaknesses. It is only the police that can investigate and unravel the mystery behind the death,” said Ndago.