In a heart-wrenching incident, two Form students from Karigini Mixed Secondary School in Tharaka Nithi have tragically lost their lives, while others have been hospitalized after consuming an alcoholic substance suspected to contain ethanol.
Distraught parents and concerned neighbors have gathered outside the school, anxiously seeking information about the well-being of the students.
Law enforcement officials have also swiftly arrived at the scene to initiate investigations into this devastating incident.
Area Police Commander Joseph Ole Manei addressed the media, confirming that several students who ingested the questionable substance were promptly transported to a nearby hospital for medical attention.
Reports suggest that a total of 13 students were involved in this alarming incident that unfolded at the mixed secondary school.
As a result, eight male and three female students have been hospitalized for treatment, with two students sadly losing their lives.
This tragic event has sparked a wave of concern on social media, with online discussions shedding light on the hazards associated with absolute ethanol in school laboratories.
"Ethanol is extremely dangerous, particularly the type used in school laboratories. It is highly concentrated, usually 100%, as technicians are expected to dilute it for practical use. By comparison, the ethanol in alcoholic beverages typically ranges from 11% to 41%. How can one consume a substance with a breakeven point directly proportional to 1? The human liver can't metabolize such a concentration," commented Ian Gitonga, echoing widespread sentiments.
Furthermore, many have expressed distress over the unsuspecting parents who tirelessly work to pay school fees, assuming their children are diligently pursuing their studies, only to discover that they have engaged in such reckless acts.
"The parents of these children think their offspring are dedicating themselves to their education. We can only pray for divine intervention," lamented a Facebook user known as Nyambura.
It's essential to note that while alcoholic beverages do contain ethanol, laboratory-grade ethanol often contains impurities like benzene or methanol, which can be extremely harmful to the human body.
This tragic incident occurs as schools across the nation are gearing up for upcoming national examinations, with the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) students set to begin their exams from October 23 and continue through November 24, 2023.
Conversely, the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) will commence on Monday, October 30, and conclude on Wednesday, November 1, adding to the concerns surrounding the safety and well-being of students.