• Tononoka Secondary School was among institutions shut down after confirmed Covid-19 cases were reported.
• Khamis was buried under Islamic rites.
Tononoka Secondary School principal Mohammed Khamis who died from Covid-19 complications was buried at Kikowani cemetery Monday afternoon.
Khamis had been admitted to the intensive care unit at Coast General Hospital. He was there for five days after testing positive for the virus. Deputy principal Benjamin Kitsao Nzaro confirmed the death, saying his boss passed away on Monday afternoon.
At the weekend, the Health ministry conducted random tests for students, teachers and support staff in affected institutions, including Tononoka, Star of the Sea High School and Mama Ngina High School. Results of the tests have, however, not been made public.
Last week, Mombasa county commissioner Gilbert Kitiyo said the school had 11 confirmed cases, while more samples had been taken. The principal had been tested in school. The other 10 cases are receiving treatment at home.
Learning at Tononoka and Star of the Sea was suspended following confirmed cases. The two institutions were closed for fumigation and were expected to be reopened on November 2.
Khamis was buried at 3pm by his relatives and teachers under Islamic rites.
A message circulated on the teachers’ Whatsapp forum said: "It is with great sadness that I announce the death of Mohammed Khamis, principal Tononoka secondary, after a short illness. The body will be laid to rest today at 3pm at Kikowani Cemetery. May his soul RIP. Inshallah."
Moses Makori, the county director of education, said the teaching fraternity had lost a humble man, who "was hardworking and very social".
“As we speak, I am at the burial site, waiting to lay to rest our colleague. He was our treasurer in the sports docket for the county,” Makori said, adding that Khamis had served as principal for about four years.
Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha reopened the schools on October 12, amidst protests from parents and other stakeholders over the upsurge of Covid-19 cases in the country.
This was in preparation for the primary and secondary examinations slated for March 22, 2021, and March 25, 2021, respectively.