Police in Thika, Kiambu county are investigating the mysterious death of an 8-year-old pupil at Pebbles Academy.
Patrick Bahati reportedly left home in a school bus on August 29, but never returned home and the family was to sadly learn later that the body of their son was lying in mortuary.
Thika police commander Lawrence Muchangi said investigating officers are waiting for a post mortem report so as to proceed with investigations into the death shrouded in mystery as the school administration remained tight-lipped over the issue.
A teacher at the school is said to have reported that the boy collapsed during a race and never woke up.
According to the family, Patrick had on that particular day talked to his mother who was away on a business trip to ask her to tell the teacher that he did not wish to participate in the cross country event but the teacher allegedly forced him to run.
“It’s frustrating that the school has refused to tell us what exactly happened to our baby. They took him to Avenue hospital Thika when he was already dead, it’s painful,” said a friend to the family, Nduta wa Muniu.
“When we visited the school to pick the child’s personal belongings, we were asked to wait at the gate and when we finally entered the office, the director told us that she was not at liberty to tell us what happened to Patty because she was advised by their advocate not to talk about it, “Mama Patty was at liberty to access the office as a parent but once her child was no more, she could only be attended to at the gate,” Nduta added while at the same time questioning the safety of children in such institutions.