Sacred Heart Mukumu Girls’ High School has been closed indefinitely after two students lost their lives to what is suspected to be food or water poisoning.

The institution confirmed the deaths of the two students, a Form 1 and a Form 2 student, after they came down with the condition, which is yet to be established.

The school’s principal, Fridah Ndolo, urged parents in the notice to take their children to health institutions and monitor them as they recovered.

“Let’s pray for our students and the Mukumu community. If we take a child home for treatment let us take her to hospital and monitor her. We have lost two students. God, give us grace and wisdom to go through this trying moment. May the departed souls find eternal peace,” Ndolo said.

The Education Director of the Western Region, Jared Otieno, said the Ministry of Health and medical practitioners from Kakamega County are probing the nature of the outbreak after visiting the school on Monday morning.

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About 246 students have already been hospitalised in the span of a week, and out of that number, 124 of them complained about diarrhoea, vomiting and dizziness, while others exhibited other symptoms such as shortness of breath and fatigue.

Preliminary reports by Kakamega General Hospital showed that the students may have suffered from food or water poisoning after samples were collected and taken to the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) for examinations.

When Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale visited the school on Friday, he recommended the school's closure to avert any further health crises and that urgent steps be taken to resolve the matter.

Khalwale visited the school on Monday again, accompanied by Kakamega Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda and suggested the realignment of the institution’s management.