Thirteen Children Killed in Kenya School Stampede: Police

A Kenyan police official says 13 children have died in a stampede at a primary school in the country’s western area after they were let out to go home. 

(Photo: AP)

Thirteen children died and more than 40 others were injured in a stampede that occurred as they left school in western Kenya on Monday, 3 February, local police said.

"We have lost 13 children in this stampede and we have others in hospital with injuries," David Kabena, the police chief in the town of Kakamega, told reporters.

The crush took place at around 5:00 pm (1400 GMT) when a panic broke out as the students went home for the day from Kakamega Primary school.

The reason for the panic is still unclear.

“We have launched an investigation to establish what exactly happened,”

David Kabena, Police Chief, Kakamega

Kenya Red Cross said on Twitter that emergency services were responding to a "fatal stampede" at the school.

(This story has been published in an arrangement with Press Trust of India)