- His father Gilbert Kirwa says, " Both his legs began to swell and he complained of chest and stomach pains".
- The bright boy died after suffering infections due to a botched circumcision in Nandi County.
A 14-year-old boy who scored 395 marks in the recent KCPE results but died after suffering circumcision infections will be laid to rest today.
The bright boy died after suffering infections due to a botched circumcision in Nandi County.
The traditional circumcision was done on December 3rd at Lelmokwo in Nandi where the boy had joined four of his cousins for the rite of passage.
Thousands of other boys in the Kalenjin community have undergone the cut during the month of December.
The family has explained that two days after the cut, the boy started vomiting, stopped eating and became weak.
His father Gilbert Kirwa says, " Both his legs began to swell and he complained of chest and stomach pains".
Kirwa says the teen was healthy before the circumcision and looked happy to graduate into manhood before joining high school next year.
“Almost three weeks after the circumcision his condition worsened", Kirwa said.
The boy was later taken for extensive treatment at the Eldoret Hospital, Kirwa said.
He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after he was diagnosed with septic shock.
The other four cousins were healthy and graduated on December 28 accord to the family
Septic shock is a widespread infection causing organ failure and dangerously low blood pressure.
Common symptoms include pale and cool arms and legs, chills, difficulty in breathing and decreased urine output.
Mental confusion and disorientation may also develop.
Kirwa blamed the death of his last-born son on a delay in diagnosing the condition.
He said the boy may have been given wrong treatment before he was taken to the Eldoret Hospital.
Public health officials in Uasin Gishu and Nandi have reported that several other initiates died of infections while in seclusion within the last three weeks.
CEO of the Moi Referral Hospital Wilson Aruasa says about 4 boys have been brought into MTRH on diverse dates since early December, 2022 with post-circumcision sepsis/infection of the wound.
Mainly from Burnt Forest area, he said.
"Yesterday we received another one from Ziwa who has ended up in ICU" said Aruasa.
He said the others were managed in the general wards, did well and were discharged home.
"We're working with the County Health Department to educate and sensitize the circumcision surgeons and our communities at large on matters Infection Prevention & Control( IPC) practices such as hand hygiene at all times, single use gloves, when to use sterile gloves, sterility of surgical instruments and surgical procedures' , Aruasa said.