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| Patrick Bahati aka Patty |
A Thika family is in pain as their son Patrick Bahati, an eight-year-old pupil at Pebbles Academy, allegedly died at the school under unclear circumstances. Patrick Bahati aka Patty, whose parents are in mourning. Where is Pebbles Academy? According to the family, Bahati aka Patty left home on a school bus, but the return journey was in a body bag to Montezuma Funeral Home on Thursday, August 29, 2024. “It’s frustrating that the school has refused to tell us what exactly happened to our baby. They took him to Avenue Hospital Thika when he was already dead,” shared the parents via Ndung’u Nyoro’s Facebook post.
“It’s painful to his parents that the people to whom they entrusted their kids are the only people who know what happened to Patty, yet they remain adamant about recounting to us the last moments of Patty,” said the parents.. On that particular day, Patty talked to his Mum, who was away on business, to ask her to tell the teacher that he did not wish to participate in the cross-country event, yet the teacher allegedly forced him to run. According to the teacher, he collapsed during the race and never woke up.
“This is but one theory; there are a million other conflicting theories and hekaya za Abunwasi,” his parent alleged. Pebble Academy’s visit to home faulted The parents also shared that the school administration reportedly lacked empathy; when they visited the home, they came with Patty’s school bag, and instead of handing it over to his parents, they hid it behind the seats. “When we visited the school yesterday to pick up the rest of his personal belongings, they asked us to wait at the gate; whatever happened to empathy. When we finally entered the office, the director told us that she was not at liberty to tell us what happened to Patty because she was advised by the advocate,” said the parents.
“Mama Patty was at liberty to access the office as a parent but once her child was no more, she could only be attended to at the gate.They kept the other parents in the dark about what happened at the school that day,” they added. Questions abound for Patty’s parents Patty’s parents are now wondering if their children are safe in these schools. Another recurring question for them is, did he call out for his mother before coding? Did he think his mother let him down because he had asked not to go for cross country? Why did the school bring his books home yet withhold his clothes, smartwatch, and shoes?
by Susan Mwenesi