Police tear gas affected students at Kapsabet Girls’ High School after officers tried to control an angry crowd near the campus. More than 50 girls ended up at Kapsabet County Referral Hospital struggling to breathe and fighting panic in their dormitories.
Over 50 students of Kapsabet Girls’ High School were admitted to Kapsabet County Referral Hospital after suffering from a stray tear gas that was thrown by the police to scatter irate residents who wanted to break into a club adjacent to the school.
The trouble started on a recent evening in Kapsabet Town, Nandi County. Residents gathered outside a club right next to the school compound. They grew restless and tried to force their way inside. Police moved in to scatter them and fired tear gas canisters. Some of the canisters sent clouds of the irritating smoke drifting straight into the school grounds.
Girls in one dormitory woke up coughing and with burning eyes. Teachers rushed to open windows and doors while older students helped the younger ones outside to fresh air.
“We could not breathe properly. It felt like fire in the chest, and many were crying,” one Form Three student said from her hospital bed. Her voice still sounded hoarse hours later.
Health workers at Kapsabet County Referral Hospital treated the girls for irritation to the eyes, nose and lungs and other breathing problems. Most received oxygen, eye washes and medicine to calm the effects.
Hospital officials confirmed over 50 admissions with some still under observation the next morning. Parents hurried to the facility after getting calls from teachers. Many stood outside the wards waiting for updates on their daughters.
Local leaders expressed concern about the close distance between the entertainment spot and the learning institution. One parent who rushed to the hospital shook his head as he spoke.
“This school is supposed to be a safe place for our girls. “How does a club operate so near that police action reaches them?” he asked. Residents noted that similar tensions around the club had happened before, especially on busy nights.
Police have not yet released an official statement on the exact timing or number of canisters used. Sources close to the operation said officers acted quickly to prevent property damage and possible fights among the crowd.
But the wind direction that evening worked against the school. What started as crowd control turned into an ordeal for teenagers trying to study and rest.
Kapsabet Girls High School has a strong reputation in the region for academics and discipline.
Some classes ran behind schedule as the school focused on recovery and cleaning affected areas. Head teachers in neighbouring schools also checked on their own students in case any effects spread.
This event highlights ongoing questions about security around schools in busy town centres. Education officials in the county promised to review the placement of such establishments near learning institutions.
Community members shared mixed feelings. A shopkeeper near the school said the club brings some income to the area but causes regular disturbances. “Young people want places to relax but not at the expense of students preparing for exams,” she explained.
Doctors at the referral hospital said most girls responded well to treatment and would likely return to class soon. Still, the images of girls receiving care spread quickly on social media and sparked calls for accountability.
Some residents urged the county government to enforce stricter rules on how close entertainment venues can be to schools.
Local politicians visited the hospital and school to show support. They promised to follow up with security agencies.
For now the priority remains the well-being of the students and making sure such an event does not repeat itself. Parents across Nandi County will watch closely to see what changes follow this unfortunate night in Kapsabet.
