Njoro Girls Tragedy; Nakuru Student Brenda Akinyi Dies from Rare Malaria, Sparks Outrage Over School Negligence

The sudden death of 17-year-old Brenda Akinyi, a Form Four student at Njoro Girls High School, has left the Nakuru community in shock. The girl fell ill while at school for nearly three days but allegedly did not receive adequate care from the administration or the school nurse. She later died at Nakuru Level 5 Hospital despite doctors’ attempts to save her.

According to her mother, Millicent Anyango, she first learned of her daughter’s deteriorating condition from Brenda’s brother, who had visited the school on an unrelated matter. Friends revealed that Brenda had been sleeping in the dormitory as her health worsened, prompting urgent intervention from her family. Her mother rushed her to hospital after noticing she was bleeding from the nose, but Brenda passed away within hours.

Locals have expressed outrage, accusing the school of negligence. “Did the nurse examine the student properly? Was the principal informed? What actions were taken by the teachers?” questioned one resident. Protesters gathered at the school gates, demanding accountability for the tragedy. The incident is not believed to be isolated, with parents citing previous cases of poor attention to students’ health.

Nakuru county education officials intervened by sending all students home as a precaution while investigations continue. Authorities pledged to establish how the school handled Brenda’s illness and to ensure corrective measures.

Hours after the school was temporarily closed, postmortem results revealed that Brenda died due to brain swelling caused by a rare form of malaria. Dr Titus Ngulungu explained, “Initially, she was dehydrated, and her body was not receiving enough oxygen. The final cause of death was a swollen brain and difficulty in breathing.” Another doctor added that the condition developed rapidly but could have been managed if proper medication had been administered on time.

The tragedy has reignited calls for stricter health monitoring in schools and timely medical intervention. As investigations continue, the community demands accountability to prevent similar incidents. Brenda’s death highlights the need for vigilance, proper health care, and immediate action when students fall ill.