School pool attendant detained for seven days after pupil's death

Geoffrey Opala, a school pool attendant at the Visa Oshwal Primary School will remain in police custody for seven days, as investigations into the death of a Grade Two pupil continue.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) earlier sought custodial orders to detain Opala who allegedly failed to restrain a pupil from getting into a swimming pool where he drowned.

Detective Constable Clare Wafula of Parklands DCI offices said she is investigating a case of neglect of official duty against Geoffrey Opala and wants to detain him at the Parklands police station for seven days.

The body of 11-year-old Grade Two learner Iilyaas Abdikarim Ali Mohamudi was found inside the pool on February 20 and Opala was on duty on the same day.

"The respondent (Opala) was arrested on February 22, 2024, for the suspicion of having committed an offense of neglect of official duty contrary to section 128 as read with section 36 of the Penal Code," Ms Wafula stated in an affidavit filed at the Milimani Law Courts.

"The respondent (Opala) was captured on CCTV footage on duty when the deceased walked towards the swimming pool and later the body was discovered having drowned in the pool."

The detective says Opala intentionally failed to prevent the minor from walking into the pool.

"When it was established that the deceased was missing, the respondent (Opala) failed to disclose to the school management and the parents that the deceased had walked passed him towards the swimming pool," Ms Wafula says.

Opala, after being pressed by the family of the deceased pupil to disclose the whereabouts of the minor, denied having seen him.

According to Ms Wafula, Opala later told the family that he had searched the swimming pool and recovered the body in the absence of the family and the school's staff.

Ms Wafula says preliminary investigations by the DCI revealed that the minor died of drowning which is yet to be established whether it was caused by somebody or accidentally.

She said Opala has been interrogated but declined to disclose where he lives hence it will be very difficult to trace him in case investigations lead to his prosecution.

The detective said if released, Opala is likely to interfere with witnesses yet to be traced and some of them include his workmates.

"Owing to the gravity of the charges facing (Opala) and the fact that he has no known place of abode, he poses a flight risk," Ms Wafula stated.