Chemase Secondary School in Nandi County was closed down indefinitely by the government following the rising tension at the institution.
Nandi county commissioner Herman Shiambi said the move to send 350 students home was occasioned by the death of a Form 1 student.
Kelvin Kiptanui,16, a Form 1 student at Chemase secondary died at Nandi-Hills level 4 hospital hours after he was admitted in critical condition.
The deceased, who was hardly two weeks old at the institution, is reported to have been assaulted by his teachers for making references in a Physics textbook during an afternoon Friday quiz.
Tinderet sub-county police commander Ali Jire said the matter was reported on Sunday by the mother of the deceased.
The boy collapsed in the staffroom and started vomiting blood. It is then that he was rushed to Chepsese dispensary and later to Nandi Hills Level Four Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries two days later.
According to the victim’s mother, the teenager regained consciousness and recounted being canned and receiving blows to the stomach.
“It is a very complex incident because the school is yet to make a formal report with the police on the death and the circumstances surrounding the death,” Jire said.
When contacted, School principal Martin Masika said he had nothing to comment on the incident.
“I’ve handed over the incident report to the ministry of education and will not comment, just make a follow-up with the concerned officials,” Masika said.
Kiptanui joins a list of several other students who have lost their lives at the hand of teachers.
By Wanjiru Mbaru