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| Eugene Makale (l) died after persistent throat pain. His father (r) recounted how the incident. |
The family of a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidate from St. Joseph Mukulusu Secondary School, is mourning his untimely death, which occurred on Friday, November 8. What was Eugene Makale suffering from? Eugene Makale, who had been battling persistent throat pain since before his examinations began, succumbed to his condition as he was being transported to the hospital.
Makale’s family, who reside in a humble setting, explained that their limited financial resources prevented them from seeking timely medical attention. According to his father, the young man’s symptoms became severe on Friday evening, with difficulty swallowing and a high fever. Despite the family’s efforts to buy him medicine and rush him to the hospital, Makale did not survive the journey.
“His condition worsened on Friday evening. His throat was paining whenever he tried swallowing anything and he had severe fever. We bought him medicine and transported him to the hospital but he succumbed on the way,” the deceased’s father said. How St. Joseph Mukulusu reacted to Eugene’s death Teachers and students at St. Joseph Mukulusu Secondary School expressed frustration, attributing the tragedy to the removal of the government’s Edu Afya medical insurance, which previously covered students’ healthcare needs.
“Edu Afya played a significant role for us last year. We used to rely on nearby facilities for urgent care, but now when you go, they say there is no medicine,” a student explained. A teacher echoed the concern, noting that families in the area often cannot afford medical care, leaving students vulnerable. Makale’s passing adds to a growing list of student fatalities that have occurred during the national examination period. The loss has sparked calls for the government to reconsider healthcare support systems for students from low-income backgrounds.
by Nancy Odindo