8-year-Old Pupil Collapses And Dies Leaving Family Devastated In Thika
A family in Thika, Kiambu County, is seeking justice for the mysterious death of their 8-year-old son, a Pebbles Academy student.
The family of Patrick Bahati has accused the school of forcing their son to participate in the school’s cross-country games, despite strict instructions from the deceased’s mother to exempt him from the games.
According to teachers at the school, the boy collapsed near the end of the 4km walk and was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Citizen TV followed up with the late Bahati’s family and friends as they gathered around his family compound in Flame Tree Estate, Makongeni.
School games tragedy
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) September 6, 2024
PP2 pupil dies mysteriously in school games in Thika
8-year-old Patrick Bahati is a pupil at Pebbles Academy
Teachers say Bahati collapsed during a 4KM walk
Wawira: Everyone I spoke to told me a different thing#CitizenFridayNight @lillian_muli pic.twitter.com/vZbBgOnakI
What began as a normal school day for the PP2 student ended tragically, with a call to his disbelieving family informing them that their son had died.
Bahati’s mother accuses Pebbles Academy, where the boy attends school, of not being forthcoming with the truth.
“We are still waiting to hear from the school because I still haven’t heard anything that can make me feel settled on the explanation of what exactly happened to my son. Everyone I spoke to told me a different thing,” said Ann Wawira.
“The school called Patrick’s mum and told her Patrick had participated in the cross-country event and he became unconscious along the way,” added Nduta Muniu, a family friend.
“The school is trying to cover up their tracks, they are not being empathetic, and they are causing more pain to the family.”
Wawira, who was on a business trip when the tragedy occurred, claims her son made a distressing phone call minutes before the games began.
The child begged her to tell the school that he did not want to participate.
Despite the grieving mother’s clear request that her son not participate in the games, the school ignored her wishes.
The teachers in charge forced her son to complete the 4km walk, which proved too much for him to handle.
“The principal is telling me this child sat down and told them he was feeling tired, so I haven’t gotten any good statement that I can even tell somebody that this is what happened to my child,” she noted.
“Patrick was the second born; the first one is Mureithi, and Patrick is deceased now. My son was a very jovial person, a very obedient boy.”
The school, however, has issued a statement absolving itself of any blame or wrongdoing, stating that the learner was accompanied by two teachers on the walk, who took all necessary emergency precautions when he fainted.
“Patrick was assisted into the van. He then slumped on the seat and appeared to lose consciousness,” the statement read.
“The team arrived at Avenue Hospital Thika. Unfortunately, the doctors were not able to stabilize the child, and he passed on during the treatment phase.”
According to Thika Police Commander Lawrence Muchangi, investigating officers are awaiting a post-mortem report before moving forward with their investigations into the death.
Bahati will be laid to rest on Saturday at his family’s home in Embu County.
8-year-Old Pupil Collapses And Dies Leaving Family Devastated In Thika
