AKIPRESS.COM - At least 14 pupils have been killed in a stampede at a primary school in western Kenya, officials say, BBC reports.

The crush happened at Kakamega Primary School, north-west of the capital Nairobi, on Monday afternoon.

Reports say children were leaving classes for home at about 17:00 local time (14:00 GMT) when the stampede took place.

Education minister George Magoha confirmed the 14 deaths to local media.

"The loss of a child is very painful. My condolences to parents who have lost their children," Mr Magoha told Citizen TV.

Nearly 40 other students were injured - some critically - and taken to hospital, reports say. Some of them were released after receiving treatment.