A form four female student has died and one been admitted to hospital in Maralal, Samburu county, after drinking school laboratory methanol.
Eight students of Longewan Secondary School in Samburu Central subcounty broke into the school laboratory on Sunday and stole methanol.
"Five boys and three girls took the chemical in the school compound. Some took it dry while others diluted it with soda," area police boss Abagoro Guyo said.
Rajab Saddam, a doctor at the Samburu County Referral Hospital, said one female student died and one, a 17-year-old, is admitted in critical condition.
"She cannot talk or open her eyes but, according to her sleeping position, we can tell she has severe abdominal pains," Rajab said.
Rajab said six out of the eight were treated and discharged. Noting this was the first case and that the consequences can be fatal, the doctor discouraged teachers from leaving the laboratories unlocked.
In some cases, the linkage between problem drinking and academic performance is profound. Drinking can affect the biological development of young people as well as their school-related achievement and behaviour.
The country has made tremendous strides in the campaign against alcohol and drugs. The Alcoholic Drinks Control Act, 2010, came into operation on November, 22, 2010, repealing the Chang’aa Prohibition Act (Cap 70) and the Liquor Licensing Act (Cap 121) and empowering Nacada to regulate the alcoholic drinks production and sale in the country.
All districts have established alcoholic drinks regulation committees charged with implementing and enforcing the act and subsequent regulations. Nacada held the first ever National Conference on Alcohol and Drug Abuse from January 25 to 27, 2012. The three-day conference drew participants from research institutions, institutions of higher learning, government ministries, departments and agencies, faith-based organisations, the media, the judiciary, and representatives of NGOs, among others.