Former Knut Boss Wilson Sossion Calls for Health Inspections in Public Schools
Former Knut secretary general Wilson Sossion has called on the Ministry of Health to conduct new inspections into the living standards in public schools in order to prevent further disasters similar to recent incidents.
Sossion emphasized that the issue of poor sanitation and overcrowding in schools is not limited to one school, but is prevalent in many schools in Western Kenya.
Sossion expressed his concerns during an interview on K24, stating that if there are schools in Kenya with a population of 2,000 students, then the country is sitting on a time bomb.
“The truth is it is not only Mukumu Girls, but it is also all schools,” he said.
He urged the Ministry of Education to reevaluate the decision to overpopulate boarding schools, as it poses a high risk of disasters and can negatively impact the well-being of students and the country as a whole.
The recent incident at Sacred Heart Mukumu Girls’ High School in early April highlighted the severity of the situation. Over 124 students were hospitalized at the Kakamega County General Hospital in a suspected case of food and water poisoning, resulting in the death of three students and one teacher.
The Ministry of Health confirmed that the food consumed by the students was contaminated with fresh feces, likely containing bacteria such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Salmonella enterica typhi, which can cause food poisoning and typhoid fever respectively.
Sossion emphasized that the problem is not isolated to Mukumu Girls’ High School, but is a widespread issue in many schools across the country. He called for fresh inspections of all schools and prompt addressing of sanitation challenges to prevent future disasters.
He also highlighted the need for the Ministry of Education to reconsider the practice of overpopulating boarding schools, as it puts students at risk and can have serious consequences. Sossion urged the Ministry to take proactive measures to reverse this practice and prioritize the health and safety of students.
Former Knut Boss Wilson Sossion Calls for Health Inspections in Public Schools
