Mukumu Girls student died of dehydration, shock from stomach infection

Wendy Abetty, a Form One Student at Mukumu Girls High School in Kakamega died of shock arising from infections in the stomach, postmortem results show.

Fourteen-year-old Abetty is one of two students who died after allegedly consuming contaminated food and water at the school last week with over 500 other students reporting health complications.

Government pathologist Dr Titus Ngulungu conducted a post-mortem on Abetty's body at Umash Funeral Home in Nakuru on Monday, April 3 and revealed she also suffered extreme dehydration.

"The dehydration was prominent on her body. The stomach contained blood due to something very unpleasant which caused a lot of havoc leading to shock on other vital organs," said Dr Ngulungu.

The pathologist further explained that they had collected samples and tissues from the stomach for further analysis to establish the cause of the heavy bleeding in the stomach.

Present during the post-mortem was Abetty's mother Joyce Oyugi who explained how they tried their best to save her life at various hospitals in Bungoma County to no avail.

She says that she was called by the deputy principal on Tuesday last week and asked to pick up her daughter from the school to facilitate her access to medical attention.

"I took her to the hospital on Wednesday and she was given medication to take while at home. I spoke with her on Thursday night and she was jovial but weak," said Oyugi.

It was on Friday morning when Abetty started feeling unwell again and the parents made arrangements for her to be treated at a nearby private facility.

"We, unfortunately, lost her along the way as the medics pronounced her dead on arrival," said Ms Oyugi.

She explained that she would not apportion any blame to the school saying that she was notified in good time.

"I can't blame anybody. We shall now start burial plans tentative for next week at our rural home in Gem, Siaya County," she said.

She described her as a loving daughter who did her best in everything she engaged in and that her death was a big blow to the family.

"She is my second-born daughter whom I loved so much. She was excellent in her academics and wanted to be a journalist or a medical doctor. I have lost a best friend in her," said Oyugi.