A cloud of grief and shock hangs over Narok Adventist Primary and Junior Secondary School following the tragic death of a Grade Four pupil, Duncan Caleb Riendo.
The lifeless body of the boy was discovered in his dormitory bed on Saturday morning.
The nine-year-old boy, a pupil at the Seventh-day Adventist-run institution, had deep neck injuries, triggering an investigation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
His father, Mr Riento, speaking at the DCI offices in Narok Town on Tuesday afternoon, expressed anguish over the mysterious circumstances of his son’s death.
“I was in Kajiado, where I work, when I received a call from the school informing me that my son was unwell,” said Riento.
He added: "I asked my sister, who lives near the school, to check on him. When I called her again, she was screaming—saying he was no more. It was the worst moment of my life.”
The grieving father recounted that his 14-year-old elder son, also a student at the same school, was the first to notice Caleb’s absence during morning breakfast.
A search by fellow pupils led to the grim discovery of his body in bed, with bloodstains later found in the boys’ toilet, the dormitory entrance, and the clothesline area.
“I have no grudge with anyone,” said Riento. “If I did unknowingly, why should they kill my innocent son? I am calling for justice.”
According to residents and preliminary police reports, the boy is believed to have been attacked at night, possibly in the school’s toilet, before his body was moved to the dormitory.
Witnesses reported discovering pools and smears of blood in the toilet facilities, raising fears that the child was murdered elsewhere and then placed in his bed.
Narok County Police Commander John Momanyi confirmed the incident, saying the victim sustained deep cuts to the neck and succumbed to his injuries at the Narok County Teaching and Referral Hospital.
“This is a very sensitive and tragic case. We urge the public to remain calm as investigations continue,” said Momanyi.
The school’s night watchman has since been arrested and is being interrogated by the DCI. His role in the events leading to the boy’s death is under scrutiny.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the local community. A resident living near the school, who requested anonymity, said he did not hear any commotion on the night of the incident but was horrified upon learning of the boy’s death.
“We are scared. How can a child be murdered like this in a school—a place we entrust with our children’s safety?” he said. “As parents, we are ready to work with authorities to ensure our children are protected.”
Parents and guardians have voiced concerns over the apparent laxity in school security, questioning the whereabouts of staff during the night and criticising the school’s decision to transport the boy’s body to the hospital before informing the police.
“Who did this boy wrong? Who did his mother wrong? They killed him in the toilet and carried his body to the dormitory. Why didn’t the school alert the police first?” one distraught parent asked.
Following the tragedy, the Ministry of Education has ordered the immediate closure of the school pending investigations.
Narok County Education Director Apollo Apuko confirmed the shutdown, stating that the matter had been formally handed over to the DCI for a thorough probe.
“This is a deeply disturbing incident, and we will not rest until the full truth is known,” he said.
The boy’s body was taken to the mortuary, where a post-mortem is expected to be conducted to determine the exact cause of death.
As investigations intensify, the community remains on edge, demanding justice for young Caleb and reassurances that no such tragedy will be allowed to happen again in any learning institution.
