Tragedy struck at AIC Kapsabet School for the Deaf in Kapsabet on Thursday morning after a septic tank collapsed, leaving one student dead and ten others injured.
The incident occurred as students rushed to catch a glimpse of the motorcade of William Ruto, which was passing near the school compound during his visit to the area.
Septic Tank Collapses Under Students’ Weight
According to local authorities, a group of learners climbed onto an old septic tank structure estimated to be about 20 feet long inside the school compound in an attempt to view the presidential convoy.
However, the aging structure could not withstand the weight of the students and suddenly collapsed, causing 11 learners to fall inside the tank.
Emergency responders, teachers and members of the public quickly moved to the scene to rescue the trapped students.
One Student Dies, Ten Injured
The tragic incident was confirmed by Angeline Kirui, the Nandi County Executive Committee Member for Health, who was among the first responders at the scene.
Rescue teams together with county disaster management officers managed to pull the learners from the collapsed structure.
The injured students were rushed to Kapsabet County Referral Hospital for emergency treatment.
Authorities confirmed that one learner died from the incident, while the other ten sustained injuries of varying degrees.
President Ruto Visits the School
After receiving reports of the accident, William Ruto briefly stopped at the school to assess the situation and express sympathy to the affected learners and staff.
During the visit, the President expressed regret over the tragedy and pledged KSh 5 million to support infrastructure improvements at the institution.
The funds are expected to help address safety concerns and upgrade facilities within the school.
President Continues Kapsabet Tour
Following the brief stop at the school, the Head of State proceeded with his scheduled program at Kapsabet Girls High School, where he was expected to attend an event as part of his tour in the region.
Authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collapse of the septic tank, including whether the structure posed a prior safety risk.
The tragic incident has sparked renewed concern over infrastructure safety in schools, particularly older facilities that may pose hidden dangers to learners.
