13 Kenyan children killed in school stampede
- Police investigating what caused pupils to panic, leading to deadly crush
- One mother blames teachers, saying children were running because they were being beaten
At least 13 children died and dozens of others were injured in a stampede as they left their primary school in Kenya on Monday, local police said, with investigators still trying to ascertain the cause of the tragedy.
Police have launched an inquiry into what caused the crowd of pupils to panic, leading to the crush at around 5pm at the school in the western town of Kakamega.
But one of the children’s mothers blamed the teachers.
“Those who survived said they were running because there were teachers who were beating them, and that is why they were escaping and fell on each other,” the mother said in an interview with local media.
She said the children were mostly in grade five, aged between 10 and 12. Corporal punishment is banned in Kenya. The Kakamega Primary School did not immediately comment on the incident.
In the aftermath of the stampede, the police cordoned off the school and took statements from the teaching staff.