Students Injured at University of Kabianga After Lecture Hall Accident

By Robert Siele – Kericho, Kenya

 

At least 27 students from the University of Kabianga were injured following a structural failure in a four-storey lecture hall that sparked panic, a stampede, and multiple injuries during a Continuous Assessment Test (CAT).

 

The incident happened at around 12pm when sections of the building began to give way, sending debris into the lecture hall. The sudden collapse caused panic among students taking their exams, prompting a rush to exit. In the chaos, some students reportedly jumped from upper floors.

 

 

One of the victims, Aaron Kiprotich, said he was in a third-floor Kiswahili class when he heard screams from above. He jumped through a window to escape because the doorway was blocked by fleeing students. He suffered fractures to his leg and arm.

 

Another student, Faith Migero, a third-year, said she was injured in the stampede, noting there had been no warning signs of any structural issues.

 

Dr. George Owiti, an emergency response officer at Kericho County Referral Hospital, confirmed that 27 students were admitted, with two in critical condition. One had a fractured femur, while another sustained an orbital injury.

 

He added that all were stabilized at the emergency unit, with some later discharged.

 

 

In a statement, Vice Chancellor Prof. Erick Koech explained that a section of material detached from the slab in Lecture Theatre Block Four and fell into a ramp area, causing alarm among students and unintentionally triggering the stampede, with some jumping from upper floors.

 

He further noted that engineers from the State Department of Public Works have been deployed to assess the building and determine the extent of the damage and any structural risks.

 

Investigations into the incident are ongoing, as concerns mount over the safety of academic infrastructure at the institution.