Pupil drowns in school swimming pool a week after admission

Roots Academy in Lanet,Nakuru where a 13 year old boy drowned at the Swimming pool during swimming lesson. [Photo:Kipsang Joseph/Standard]

A swimming lesson at a private school in Nakuru turned tragic after a Standard Six pupil drowned in the pool.

Samwel Munge, 13, died on Wednesday afternoon at his new school, Roots Academy, where he joined this month from a public school.

He was swimming alongside 40 classmates while under the watch of three teachers and a swimming instructor.

Grief engulfed Munge’s home in Ndege Farm as the family came to terms with the sudden death of their son.

Munge’s mother, Everlyn Waihuini, broke into tears saying she regretted transferring her son from the nearby Mirugi Kariuki Primary School.

“They have killed my son. It cost me all that money to take him to a better school only for them to allow him to die. I wish he stayed in his previous school. I will never see Sammy again,” she wailed.

Munge’s father James Kariuki said he received a call from a doctor at a nearby hospital who told him that his son had been involved in an accident and was admitted at the facility.

He arrived a few minutes later only to find his son dead.

“The doctor ushered me to a room where I found his body still warm,” said Mr Kariuki. 

“I am yet to believe that my son actually died at a school I thought was better. Had I not transferred him he would be here playing with his three siblings.”

The parent and the teachers as well as the swimming instructor later recorded a statement at Mwariki Police Station, the incident was booked under OB number 22/16/1/2019.

The school management tried to explain to Munge’s parents how his teachers made futile attempts to help him, but the parents have refused to buy the explanation.

They are failing to understand how Munge died while under the care of four adults.