Thika: Family Painfully Seeks Answers As Little Son Dies In School Under Mysterious Circumstances

• Patrick Bahati, a young boy who attended Pebbles Academy in Thika, allegedly died at school as he was participating in a cross-country event
• The young boy had earlier told his mum that he didn't want to participate in the event, but his parents now claim that a teacher forced him to go and play
• The young boy was taken to Montezuma Funeral Home, and the school kept his smart watch, the clothes he was wearing and his shoes

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.

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?

Meru boy slips in water tank, dies

Elsewhere in Meru, Evans, also dearly known as Tiffany or Tiffa, unfortunately, died after falling into a water tank in the school.

The little boy was attempting to fetch water from a two million-litre water tank when he slipped and fell.

TUKO.co.ke noted the pupils at Rwanyange Primary School who were around the water tank cried for help, but no one came to their aid.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.