NANDI COUNTY, Kenya — Eleven students from Kapsabet School for the Deaf were hospitalised on Thursday morning after an old septic tank within the school compound collapsed beneath them as they attempted to watch the passing motorcade of William Ruto.
The incident occurred in Kapsabet when the learners reportedly rushed toward the school’s perimeter to catch a glimpse of the president’s convoy as it drove past the institution.
According to local authorities, the students climbed onto the concrete slab covering a septic tank estimated to be about 20 feet long. The structure, which is believed to have been old and structurally weak, failed under the combined weight of the learners, causing it to collapse and plunge them into the pit.
The incident was confirmed by Nandi County Executive Committee Member for Health Angeline Kirui, who was among the first officials to respond to the emergency.
Rescue teams, including county disaster officers and medical personnel, were quickly dispatched to the school where they evacuated the injured learners.
The students were later taken to Kapsabet County Referral Hospital for medical treatment and observation.
Authorities have not yet released detailed updates regarding the extent of the students’ injuries, though early reports indicate they sustained minor to moderate injuries.
After learning of the incident, President William Ruto briefly stopped at the school to assess the situation and express regret over the accident.
The president also announced a KSh5 million donation to support infrastructure development at the institution, including improvements aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.
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Following the stop, the head of state continued with his itinerary to Kapsabet Girls High School, where he had been scheduled to attend an event.
The incident has renewed concerns about aging infrastructure in public learning institutions across Kenya, particularly in specialised schools where many facilities were built decades ago and require urgent upgrades.
Education and safety experts have repeatedly called for routine structural inspections of sanitation and utility facilities in schools to prevent accidents involving septic tanks, water systems, and other underground structures.
Authorities are expected to conduct a safety assessment at the school as investigations into the collapse continue.
