The Roll Call
1. Joseph Musani
2. Anntonet Iramweya
3. Catherine Aloo
4. Prince Vermalin
5. Nicole Achola
6. Vanessa Adesa
7. Fidel Kumbetie
8. Simon Waweru
9. Samuel Simekha
10. Lavenda Akasa
11. June Nalchumicha
12. Bertha Muywele
13. Prudence Eliza
14. Naila Kiverenge
15. Salma Bilal
These children–unoffending, innocent, with so much promise and beautiful–pupils of Kakamega Primary School exited on 3rd February 2020 in tragic circumstances. These jewels of interred between 5th February 2020 and 15th February 2020 died in pursuit of education. Their parents, their siblings, their families are crushed, devastated, and their hearts are troubled? Questions remain unanswered and their parents are wondering if there is something they could’ve done to avert the tragedy.
The Republic of Kenya and Kakamega County owes one debt to the parents, to the departed heroes and heroines, and that is without contradiction, the Truth? And this Truth must not be long in coming. The Truth will determine who did not do their duty and why they did not do that duty. The greatest crime will be be a cover-up of this heinous and senseless loss of lives in a place where such deaths were least expected.
The elected leaders of Western Kenya, the Teachers Unions, civil society, religious leaders, the media houses based in the region must keep the pressure, lead oversight, highlight the spotlight on the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to thoroughly, transparently, scrupulously, speedily investigate and complete the investigations and prosecute those culpable for these deaths. These was a massacre. The school managers and the County Health officials are jointly prima facie culpable. The problem is that if we blink and take a back seat these deaths will become yet another set of statistics, and the culprits will walk away without being held accountable, prosecuted, convicted and jailed for murder most foul.
Justice remains the vindication, the price for these children’s senseless death. If we do not honour our National Anthem that let justice be our shield then there is no knowing when another tragedy, maybe even worse than this in Kakamega Primary School will occur due to criminal negligence on those duty bound to prevent such tragedies.
Our education system has been blighted with these incidences and lessons must be learned and so that no school in Kenya unwittingly, by acts of commission or omission becomes a death trap rather than oasis of safety and comfort. Kakamega County must remember these 14 heroes and heroines and erect a monument in their honour and as a glowing tribute to their sacrifice so that no child should ever die in such circumstances in that county and the rest of the counties in the region. Yes when all is settled on interring these children the criminal and civil process must take its immediate course. We will keep watch. The Roll Call of Justice must be maintained until justice is realized.