Schools and other institutions in Nandi County have been urged to urgently inspect sanitation facilities and infrastructure following a tragic incident in which a septic tank collapsed at Kapsabet School for the Hearing Impaired, leaving one learner dead and several others injured.
The incident occurred on Thursday morning as pupils gathered within the school compound while waiting to catch a glimpse of the presidential motorcade that was passing through Kapsabet town on its way to Kapsabet Girls High School.
According to county officials, several learners had climbed onto a concrete slab covering a septic tank within the school compound. The slab suddenly collapsed, causing the pupils standing on it to fall into the pit.
Authorities believe the collapse may have been caused by prolonged heavy rains that weakened the surrounding ground and compromised the stability of the structure.
Nandi County Disaster Management Director Lorraine Cherono said her department received the distress call and responded immediately, arriving at the school within ten minutes.
“Today was meant to be a joyful day for the county as we welcomed the President, but unfortunately we encountered a very difficult situation,” said Cherono.
“Several students had stood on the slab of a septic tank and it collapsed, causing them to fall inside.”
She explained that emergency response teams moved swiftly to rescue the trapped learners, although access to the school compound was initially slowed by heavy traffic and blocked roads.
Cherono urged members of the public to always give way to emergency vehicles during rescue operations to enable first responders to reach victims quickly.
“We ask residents to always create space for ambulances and emergency teams so that those in need can receive assistance without delay,” she said.
Nandi Central Sub-County Police Commander Maurice Okul confirmed that one learner later succumbed to injuries after being rushed to hospital.
“The students were rescued and taken to Kapsabet Referral Hospital for treatment, but unfortunately one of them succumbed to injuries while receiving medical care,” said Okul.
He added that six learners have since been treated and discharged, while four others remain admitted in stable condition.
Health and Sanitation County Executive Committee Member Dr. Angeline Kirui said rescue efforts began immediately after authorities were alerted at around 9:20 a.m.
“By 9:25 a.m., the first casualty had already been retrieved from the pit,” she said.
Dr. Kirui explained that all 11 learners who had fallen into the septic tank were successfully rescued and rushed to Kapsabet Referral Hospital for treatment.
She noted that eight of the children were initially reported to be in stable condition, while two sustained moderate injuries that required further medical examination.
“One of the learners sustained severe injuries after a piece of the broken slab fell on her, causing more serious trauma,” she said.
Dr. Kirui commended the coordinated efforts of the County Ambulance Service, Disaster Management teams and other emergency responders who worked swiftly to retrieve the victims and transport them to hospital.
Following the rescue operation, a vacuum truck from a private waste management firm was deployed to suction wastewater and sludge from the septic tank.
The exercise enabled emergency teams to thoroughly inspect the pit and confirm that no additional victims remained trapped inside.
“We were able to inspect the pit after the suction exercise and confirmed that all the children had been accounted for,” Dr. Kirui said.
In the wake of the tragedy, county authorities have issued a warning to schools, churches and other institutions to review the structural safety of sanitation facilities and other infrastructure, especially during the ongoing rainy season.
Cherono noted that Nandi County is among regions expected to receive heavy rainfall throughout March, April and May, a period that could weaken the soil and compromise structures such as septic tanks, pit latrines and retaining walls.
“With the heavy rains we are experiencing, the ground becomes saturated and structures can easily collapse when subjected to excessive weight,” she warned.
She urged school administrators and institutional managers to conduct immediate safety inspections and ensure that sanitation structures are properly reinforced.
Cherono also cautioned residents living in landslide-prone areas, particularly in Tinderet Sub-County, to remain vigilant and relocate to safer ground whenever signs of instability appear.
“Nandi is highly prone to landslides and rockfalls, and we have already begun witnessing such incidents,” she said.
“We urge residents not to wait until disaster strikes but to move to safer areas once they notice danger signs.”
In addition, the county government has raised concern over an increase in lightning incidents in the region following recent storms.
Cherono revealed that two people have already lost their lives due to lightning strikes in recent weeks.
Authorities are now urging institutions, especially schools and churches, to install lightning arresters in buildings that accommodate large numbers of people.
“We are calling on schools, churches and other public facilities to install lightning arresters to protect lives,” she said.
Dr. Kirui emphasized the need for school administrations to enforce strict safety measures around sanitation facilities and other potentially hazardous structures within school compounds.
“We must sensitize teachers and school management to ensure that children do not crowd on structures such as toilet slabs or septic tank covers where excess weight could cause collapse,” she said.
She added that schools should consider introducing safety guidelines, including regulating the number of learners accessing sanitation areas at a time and conducting routine inspections of infrastructure.
County officials have assured residents that the Disaster Management Department remains on standby around the clock to respond to emergencies.
“Our teams are available 24 hours a day. In case of any emergency, residents should alert us immediately so that we can respond quickly and save lives,” Cherono said.
Cabinet Secretary for Education Julius Ogamba, who had accompanied President William Ruto during the visit to Nandi County, later joined county officials in visiting the injured learners at Kapsabet Referral Hospital.
By Geoffrey Satia
