A family in Lugari Constituency, Kakamega County, is mourning their Grade One son, who died after a mysterious illness that caused severe swelling of his body, including his private parts.
Joshua Murawa, a pupil at St. Kizito Comprehensive School, died on Monday night at his home in Jerusalem Village, Mbagara Sub-Location, Mautuma Ward. The family has been unable to establish what caused the illness.
His father, Stephen Keya, said the boy fell ill in July 2026, and his body gradually began to swell. The swelling later spread to his private parts, leaving the family deeply worried.
“I have never seen such an illness since I was born. The child’s body and private parts started swelling. We had to seek traditional treatment, and he improved slightly, but he continued becoming weaker every day,” Keya said.
His mother, Jennifer Auma, said his son’s condition worsened sharply at around 9 p.m. on Monday. She said he asked for water and died shortly after drinking it, in the presence of his parents.
According to Auma, the swelling had spread to his legs, abdomen, and private parts. She said he was in pain whenever he took medicine but improved when given traditional treatment.
“We were very surprised by the illness. I want to tell fellow Kenyans that such an illness exists,” she said.
St. Kizito Comprehensive School Head of Institution Charles Mbaya confirmed the death and said the school would stand with the family during this difficult period. He described Joshua as a cheerful, obedient, and attentive pupil.
The body is being preserved at Musembe Mortuary, awaiting a post-mortem examination to establish the cause of death.
