Embu: Some 68 students from St. Thomas Aquinas Igumori Secondary School in Mbeere South, Embu County, were hospitalized on Friday morning following the consumption of suspected contaminated meat. The affected students, all in Form Four, experienced severe stomach pains and diarrhea after consuming boiled cow’s head and soup on Thursday evening, necessitating an urgent medical response.
According to Kenya News Agency, the students were rushed to Kiritiri Level Four Hospital, with five individuals subsequently referred to Embu Level Five Hospital for specialized treatment. These students are reported to be in stable condition. The remaining students were treated and discharged, as Public Health Officials from the County Government initiated an investigation into the incident.
The school had organized a feast on Wednesday to celebrate the previous year’s KCSE performance, during which a bull was slaughtered and consumed by all students and staff. The head of the bull was preserved and later prepared on Thursday for this year’s Form Four candidates to boost their morale as they prepared for final exams. School Principal Paul Mwaniki expressed regret over the incident and assured students of the safety of their meals. He noted that contamination might have occurred during meal preparation, despite the meat being inspected and certified as fit for consumption by relevant authorities.
Mwaniki assured parents and the school community that there was no cause for alarm, as medical personnel had promptly intervened, and samples were taken for further analysis. Embu County Executive Committee Member (CECM) in charge of Health, Jamal Runyenje, supported Mwaniki’s assurances, confirming that all hospitalized students were stable. He added, “We are working closely with the school and health experts to ensure such an incident does not happen again.”
Simultaneously, County Health Officials have expanded their investigation to include the overall food storage, handling, and preparation practices at the school to prevent a recurrence. They have urged all educational institutions to implement strict food safety measures.