Police call for more time to probe school head's death

Lydia Onyoni died on Monday, October 10, 2022. [Courtesy]

Education Cabinet Secretary nominee Ezekiel Machogu has called for speedy investigations into the death of a secondary school principal in Nyamira County.

He said he had held a meeting with the acting DCI boss to send a specialised team from Nairobi to team up with those in Nyamira to help bring to book some of the suspects in the death of Rangenyo Girls Principal Lydiah Onyoni.

Machogu said the death calls for security enhancement of school heads, adding that the principal's death was devastating to fellow teachers, family and students.

"The deceased has done a tremendous job in uplifting education standards in the region and in particular her latest workstation. This is unacceptable and those behind the alleged killing should face the consequences."

His sentiments came even as police in Nyamira insisted that they will wait for further examinations on samples taken from the deceased before they conclude on what could have caused the death.

Onyoni died at a private hospital in Kisii County on Monday, October 10, 2022.

It remains unclear what led to her hospitalisation, though some reports suggest she was attacked at her home, the principal's residence, within the School's compound.

George Onkundi, the chairperson of Nyamira South School Heads Association, told The Standard that Onyoni was found unresponsive in her house on Monday morning.

Keep Reading

The deceased is credited to have uplifted academic standards in the school having transferred to the institution five years ago.

At the time, the school had less than 500 students and she increased the numbers to more than 1,200. She also expanded the school's infrastructure and instilled discipline among students and the staff workforce.

Nyamira South sub-county police commander Moses Kirong said the preliminary report they had received from the pathologist on the death was not conclusive.

"We got the report but we will still give time to other Government experts to give us the final results from the examinations that were recommended by the Pathologists. The family is in mourning and we could wish to speculate on the cause of the death," he said.

A post-mortem carried out early last week didn't reveal the exact cause of the deceased's death. However, it indicated soft tissue injuries with a further recommendation to carry out toxicology tests and examinations.

Her father-in-law George Ongori said they have every reason to suspect that the deceased was murdered.

"We will give the government all the time to investigate the matter but we expect detailed investigations," he said.

His sentiments were echoed by the chairperson Kisii County Secondary School Heads Association who said, "We are scared but we trust our security personnel to come up with a conclusive report into the incident. Our students, parents and teachers should remain calm as we await a conclusive report of her death. It is a sad moment for the education fraternity, for losing a young and promising manager".

Nyamira South Sub County Director of Education Faith Kiprono said the sudden death was shocking and devastating. "We are requesting all to be patient until investigations are concluded."

According to the family, the deceased will be buried at her Kiamokama home on October 28, 2022.

In July last year, unknown goons had torched the house of Gekongo Primary Headteacher Mrs Florence killing her and her husband.

Mogoa Moruri, a retired teacher and his wife were burnt beyond recognition at their home in Itumbe, Bobasi Constituency Kisii.