Meria
Elder Lister
Sixteen teachers from Kakamega Primary School have so far recorded statements with police as investigations into the stampede that killed 15 pupils a week ago continue.
Western region criminal investigation officer, Shem Nyamboki, said detectives are planning to record statements from pupils and other witnesses.
According to Mr Nyamboki, preliminary investigations indicate that teachers at the school had restricted pupils to using only one of the two staircases in the building and reserved the other for themselves.
Three pupils out the 15 who killed in the tragic incident will be buried on Saturday.
Those to be buried are Catherine Aloo from Butere, Lavenda Akasa from Ikonyero and Bertha Munywele from Esumiya in Lurambi constituency.
Once all statements are recorded, detectives will then compile a file which will be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for perusal.
The DCI boss said should the DPP recommend that there was enough evidence to sustain a criminal prosecution in the matter, they would proceed to have those who are culpable for criminal negligence charged.
There is also a possibility that the DPP could recommend that a public inquest be held before a magistrate to determine what happened.
After the hearing, the magistrate will then proceed to make recommendation of the next cause of action based on the evidence of those summoned to appear and testify in the inquest.
“The investigations are progressing well and we are trying to establish whether there was negligence on the part of the teachers and whether the evidence on record can support criminal culpability on their part,” said Mr Nyamboki.
COUNSELLING
The recording of statements from pupils was put off due to the ongoing counselling sessions being offered by a team from the county government.
It is targeting pupils from Grade 4 and 5 who were affected by the tragic incident, including those injured in the commotion.
Western region police commander Peris Kimani said the investigations were at an advanced stage.
HALT CHURCH SERVICES
Police have directed the school board of management to stop nine churches from conducting their services in classrooms at the school.
“These churched have been operating at the school for a long time and using the classrooms to worship. That has to stop,” said Mr Nyamboki.
A post mortem examination on the bodies of the pupils indicated that they died from suffocation.
On Monday, one of the pupils who had been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at Kakemega County General and Referral Hospital collapsed and died at her parents’ home in Amalemba estate shortly after she had been discharged.
The hospital's pathologist Dr Dickson Machana said Salma Oleso Bilal died due to complications related to injuries to her lungs.
She was buried on Tuesday at the Kakamega Muslim Cemetery.
Western region criminal investigation officer, Shem Nyamboki, said detectives are planning to record statements from pupils and other witnesses.
According to Mr Nyamboki, preliminary investigations indicate that teachers at the school had restricted pupils to using only one of the two staircases in the building and reserved the other for themselves.
Three pupils out the 15 who killed in the tragic incident will be buried on Saturday.
Those to be buried are Catherine Aloo from Butere, Lavenda Akasa from Ikonyero and Bertha Munywele from Esumiya in Lurambi constituency.
Once all statements are recorded, detectives will then compile a file which will be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for perusal.
The DCI boss said should the DPP recommend that there was enough evidence to sustain a criminal prosecution in the matter, they would proceed to have those who are culpable for criminal negligence charged.
There is also a possibility that the DPP could recommend that a public inquest be held before a magistrate to determine what happened.
After the hearing, the magistrate will then proceed to make recommendation of the next cause of action based on the evidence of those summoned to appear and testify in the inquest.
“The investigations are progressing well and we are trying to establish whether there was negligence on the part of the teachers and whether the evidence on record can support criminal culpability on their part,” said Mr Nyamboki.
COUNSELLING
The recording of statements from pupils was put off due to the ongoing counselling sessions being offered by a team from the county government.
It is targeting pupils from Grade 4 and 5 who were affected by the tragic incident, including those injured in the commotion.
Western region police commander Peris Kimani said the investigations were at an advanced stage.
HALT CHURCH SERVICES
Police have directed the school board of management to stop nine churches from conducting their services in classrooms at the school.
“These churched have been operating at the school for a long time and using the classrooms to worship. That has to stop,” said Mr Nyamboki.
A post mortem examination on the bodies of the pupils indicated that they died from suffocation.
On Monday, one of the pupils who had been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at Kakemega County General and Referral Hospital collapsed and died at her parents’ home in Amalemba estate shortly after she had been discharged.
The hospital's pathologist Dr Dickson Machana said Salma Oleso Bilal died due to complications related to injuries to her lungs.
She was buried on Tuesday at the Kakamega Muslim Cemetery.
