Tragedy as Student Dies after Javelin Accident in Bungoma

Police are investigating three separate incidents in Bungoma, Busia and Nyandarua counties that led to the deaths of several children and young people within the same day.

In Bungoma County, a 16-year-old student died after being struck on the head by a javelin during a sporting activity at Bunangeni Secondary School. The incident occurred on Friday, 30 January, when another student threw the javelin during a game. The injured student was taken to hospital, where he later died while receiving treatment. His body was moved to a local mortuary, pending a post-mortem examination. 

Police said investigations are under way to establish how the incident happened and whether safety measures were in place. On the same evening in Busia County, a fire destroyed a house in Bulagu village, killing a man and his two children. The victims, identified as Patrick Bahati and his children, who were in Grade Seven and Grade Two, were asleep when the fire broke out. 

Neighbours attempted to help, but all three died at the scene. Bunyala Subcounty police commander Lawrenias Odinga confirmed the incident and said the cause of the fire had not yet been established. The bodies were taken to the mortuary for post-mortem examinations as investigations continue.

In Nyandarua County, police are investigating the death of an eight-year-old girl whose body was found hours after she was reported missing in Oljororok. The Grade Two pupil left school on Friday afternoon with another child but did not return home. A search by family members and residents led to the recovery of her school bag by the roadside and, later, her body hidden in a nearby thicket. 

Police said her hands were tied behind her back and her face was covered with a headscarf. Blood was seen coming from her nose, although no visible external injuries were noted. The body was taken to J.M. Kariuki Hospital Mortuary, where a post-mortem examination is expected to determine the cause of death.