On Saturday, March 22, at around 6:20 pm, Ryan Otieno and David Awinda, both Form Four students at Ramba Boys High School in Siaya County, were standing in front of a pit latrine waiting for their friend to relieve himself before they could go to class for their evening studies.
A few minutes later, as the friend joined the duo, the slab on which the students were standing suddenly caved in and swallowed them. Fortunately, the quick reaction of other students standing nearby saved the unidentified friend as Ryan and David plunged to their deaths from a depth of 30 feet.
Innocent Kombo, a Form Three student who was among the first responders, described the rescue operation as extremely challenging.
Some of Ramba Boys High School students leaving the institution on Sunday, March 23, 2025 morning after the institution was indefinitely closed following the death of two Form Four students in a septic tank.
Photo credit: Ouko Okusah | Nation Media Group
"The rescue was not an easy task. Students and a teacher tried to help the victims, but the septic tank was too deep. An exhauster was brought in later in the night to remove the waste before some artisanal miners from the area lowered their ladders into the pit to search for the bodies," he explained.
After working for almost 12 hours, the rescue team, made up of local residents, firefighters, police and artisanal miners, finally managed to recover the two bodies. This was around 4:00 am on Sunday.
The tragic loss of the two students sparked outrage among their peers, particularly in response to remarks allegedly made by the school's principal during an assembly convened immediately after the accident.
"During the assembly, he said that two lives out of 585 candidates should not stop the school's operations," said one student.
The comment is said to have infuriated the students, who went on a rampage and destroyed school property, including breaking chairs, windows and other items.
A signpost at the gate of Ramba Boys High School on March 23, 2025.
Photo credit: Ouko Okusah | Nation Media Group
The students further stated that they had previously raised concerns about the deteriorating condition of the septic tank with the school's administration, only for their warnings to be ignored.
“The septic tank was old, and we had repeatedly warned the principal about it,” one student revealed. “We even submitted complaints through the suggestion box, but he dismissed our concerns, insisting that the tank was in good condition.”
Efforts to get a response from the principal Wycliffe Manoah Mwambwa however hit a brick wall after he declined to comment on the matter.
"Kindly speak with my seniors, I have nothing to say," he directed Nation.Africa during a visit to his office.
Siaya County Director of Education, Leonard Kabaki, confirmed that the school had been closed indefinitely but denied reports of student unrest.
“We have temporarily closed the school to allow students to recover from the trauma of losing their classmates,” Kibaki stated. “Investigations into the incident will commence soon, and the school board is set to meet on Monday to deliberate on the way forward. There were no riots, and police did not use teargas to disperse the students, as some reports suggest.”
Mr Kabaki said that the initial investigation suggested that the septic tank, which was built by a non-governmental organisation for the school in 2011, could have collapsed due to corrosion of the steel used to support the concrete.
"But let's wait for the outcome of the police investigations which have already commenced," he said.
The students on their part blamed the school's administration for negligence accusing the principal of prioritising insignificant projects at the expense of their welfare and safety.
“The principal is taking teachers to a retreat to Mombasa but has failed to address the waste management issue. The latrines are in deplorable condition, and just across the fence, the school has dug an open pit where other waste is dumped. We are seriously concerned with our safety,” they said.
Ryan Otieno and David Awinda were described as dedicated and intelligent students with a bright future ahead of them. Ryan, who was index number 20, was known for his exceptional performance in Mathematics, while David, index number 51, was also academically gifted.
“Ryan was a brilliant student; he was A-minus material. He always excelled in Mathematics, and in our last exam, he was the top performer in the subject,” a close friend shared.
