Mukumu Girls: Autopsy reveals cause of death of one student

An autopsy report has revealed the cause of death of one of the students at Sacred Heart Mukumu Girls' High School, in Kakamega County.

The institution was indefinitely closed on Monday, after over 200 learners were hospitalised while two died from suspected water and food poisoning.

Wendy Oyugi, a 14-year form one student was among those who died.

She died at Life Care Hospital in Bungoma County.

A postmortem conducted in Nakuru County on Monday revealed that she died of gastritis, otherwise known as stomach inflammation.

The exercise was conducted at Umash Funeral Home by government pathologist Titus Ngulungu.

Ngulungu said the girl experienced bleeding in the stomach as a result of the inflammation.

"After examination of the body l have formed the opinion that the deceased died because of gastritis.

However, l have collected more samples for toxicology tests at the government chemist to ascertain what caused the stomach inflammation," he said.

He noted that she must have ingested something that caused the inflammation and the bleeding. He said more samples were collected for further testing.

The autopsy was conducted in the presence of Wendy's parents and relatives.

Her mother Joyce Oyugi, said she was informed of her daughter’s sickness last week by the school's deputy principal.

She said Wendy was picked from school and went to stay with her elder sister in Bungoma, as she received medication.

Oyugi says on March 31, she received a distress call from her older daughter that Wendy's situation had taken a negative turn.

The girl was rushed to Life Care Hospital where she died before doctors could attend to her.

"l am so heartbroken, Wendy died at a tender age, she had a bright future," she is quoted by Daily Nation.

She says she does not blame anyone for daughter's death, adding that the school informed her in good time concerning her sickness.

Wendy will be buried at their home in Siaya County next week.