Family Seeks Answers After 14-Year-Old's Sudden Death at Boarding School

On October 18, 2024, 14-year-old Angeline Kirigo spoke happily to her parents on her teacher's phone.

The Form One student at Mahiga Girls' High School had borrowed her class teacher's phone to share her excitement about her sister's upcoming Strathmore University graduation and anticipated family reunion. The circumstances surrounding Angeline's death in the early morning hours of October 19 have raised serious concerns. At approximately 2:30 AM, her mother, Gladys Muchire, received an urgent call from the school indicating that Angeline required immediate medical attention.

Upon rushing to the school, Muchire learned that her daughter had already been transported to Othaya Level 4 Sub-County Hospital, where she and relative Jecinta Mwangi would later discover that Angeline had passed away. Several aspects of the incident have prompted questions from the family, particularly the decision to transport Angeline in a private vehicle rather than the school bus or an ambulance, especially given the hospital's proximity to the school.

According to reports, Principal Franciscar Wahome planned Angeline's transfer to the hospital around 4 AM with the assistance of deputy administrators. A WhatsApp message from the Parent Teachers Association chairperson revealed that the sequence of events began when a fellow student noticed Angeline's condition in the dormitory and alerted the matron, who subsequently informed the principal.

“If she was in a critical condition, why was she taken to Level 4 hospital and not Othaya KNH Annex hospital which is Level 6? She would have received better medical care in a level 6 than a level 4. It’s like they knew she was already dead,” said a distraught Ms Mwangi.

The case has drawn the attention of local law enforcement, with Nyeri South sub-County Criminal Investigations Officer Frank Mnene confirming an ongoing investigation into the cause of death. The incident was formally reported at Munyange Police Station by school administrators on Saturday morning, while Angeline's body awaits post-mortem examination at Mary Immaculate Hospital mortuary.