Government to settle funeral expenses for students in Naivasha accident

By Peter Ochieng

The government has pledged to settle funeral expenses for 5 students who died in an accident along Nakuru - Nairobi highway, on Tuesday this week.

The students - from Friends School, Mbihi in Vihiga County were traveling from school to Nairobi for the April holidays.

The driver of the vehicle they had boarded lost control after colliding with an oncoming lorry in Naivasha.

Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Education Ezekiel Machogu on Wednesday said his Ministry will settle medical bills for 7 learners who were injured, besides covering funeral expenses for those who died.

“The Ministry condoles with the families of the deceased and affirms its support to the families whose children survived,” said the CS in a statement.

He said the students will receive the best treatment, under the Edu Afya health insurance scheme.

"The Ministry will ensure that the best free medical treatment is offered to the hospitalised students under the Edu Afya health insurance scheme for secondary school learners. The insurance cover will also cater for funeral expenses for all the deceased students.”

The 7 injured students have been transferred to the Naivasha Sub-County hospital.

Three of them, in need of critical medical care were rushed to the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).

"One learner was picked up by her parents from the Naivasha Sub-County hospital while three others were retained for further doctors’ observation,” said the CS.

Two of the students have since been given a clean bill of health.