• Preliminary investigation suggest that the ill-fated boat was overloaded at the time of the incident, with six pupils onboard, instead of its capacity of three persons.
• Police said an inquest file has been opened by DCI Ainabkoi.
Image: Handout
Police raided a man made dam in Eldoret where five pupils died and seized the boat they had boarded.
Police on Monday went to the Amazement Park, a small man made dam along Kapsengweti stream that claimed lives of five pupils, from Arap Moi Primary School in Uasin Gishu County on October 28, 2023.
Preliminary investigation suggest that the ill-fated boat was overloaded at the time of the incident, with six pupils onboard, instead of its capacity of three persons.
The proprietor of the park and the attendants were arrested and held at Tarakwa Police Station, pending arraignment.
Police said an inquest file has been opened by DCI Ainabkoi.
The bodies which have all since been dentified, are lying at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital Mortuary pending autopsy.
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu on Sunday said appropriate action will be taken once investigations are completed.
Machogu said his ministry was collaborating with the Interior Ministry to conduct "thorough and conclusive investigations into the incident.
""Appropriate action will be taken on the basis of the findings of the investigations."
"Teachers, parents and guardians are advised to avoid exposing learners to risky activities and environments, especially during the national examinations season," he said.
Machogu also urged calm for those affected by the tragedy, including families, schools, and the community, saying the government will do everything possible 'to ensure the safety of candidates across the country during the 2023 national examinations season.
He also sent condolences to the families, friends, and relatives of the deceased students.
The victims were Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) at Arap Moi Primary School in Eldoret.
Several witnesses including managers at the dam and the teachers at the school have recorded statements as part of the probe, police said.
The pupils had ventured into the popular park that offers a wide range of activities including prayers ahead of national exams that start Monday October 30 when the incident happened, police said.
The pupils and their teachers went to the park for a boat ride when it capsized.
The pupils were divided into groups with some venturing into the boat riding on, witnesses and police said.
Only one of those who were in boat and who is a class six pupil survived, police said.
The pupil was rushed to Burnt Forest Sub County Hospital and later to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital for attention.
Angry parents of the pupils stormed the school seeking to know the whereabouts of their kin.
Kenya Certificate of Primary Examinations (KCPE) and the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) will run from October 30 to November 24.
About 1.4 million are KCPE candidates, with 1.2 million KAPSEA candidates while 903,260 will sit for the KCSE exams. The pupils had ventured to the park as part of preparations for the exams.