At exactly 10 minutes to 7 am on the Monday morning of 23rd September 2019, tragedy struck at Precious Talent School in Ngando, Ngong Road, Nairobi, after a wall collapsed injuring and ending 7 lives of some of the young pupils who were already at the school at the time.
Residents of Ngando ward which is located in Dagoretti South where John Kiarie is the Member of Parliament said they heard a loud bang only to realize that the school wall had collapsed upon which they rushed to save the lives of the children.
The collapsed structure of Precious Talent School, which is privately owned, was a two- storey building made of iron sheets and wood, a factor that has been blamed for the collapse.
The Kenya Red Cross rushed to the scene to assist in saving lives in efforts that are continuing where seven children have been reported dead as 59 others have been admitted at the Kenyatta National Hospital with serious injuries.
St John’s Ambulance Communications manager, Fred Majiwa, revealed that according to him, the upper floor which was made of concrete caved in and collapsed on the pupils who were in the lower classes injuring them fatally.
“Currently we can confirm that four pupils have succumbed to the injuries at a local dispensary, while two more have been retrieved from the rubble,” said Majiwa.
Police Commander, Dagoretti South, said that the school constructed using timber and iron sheet on top of an old building forcing the structure to cave in.
“The weight could not sustain the old construction. The situation is well contained as of now,” he added.
Parents of Precious Talent School could barely stand as emotions overwhelmed them, the wailing could be heard from a distance as the once institution of learning turned to a mourning ground.
Leaders who included the Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary Belio Kipsang registered their presence yet words to comfort the parents escaped them as they joined in to stare in shock and pain.
John Kiarie, popular as KJ, delivered his message of condolence and requested the Government acts swiftly to rescue the people of Ngando ward in Ngong by providing land to build at least a single public primary school.
KJ said land in Ngando area had been grabbed by the-who-is-who and there was nowhere no build standard school for the children forcing them to do with the sub-standardly built private structures.
Precious Talent school along Ngong road in Ngando ward is a private school that had an enrollment of an estimated 800 pupils.
Government to Cover all Treatment Cost for Injured Precious Talent Pupils
Cyrus Oguna, the Government Spokesman promised that the State would cover all the treatment needed for the injured pupils at Precious Talent School, who were injured after the collapse of a classroom wall.
“This is a private school. For those who have been taken to hospital, the government is going to ensure that they get medical treatment,” said Oguna.
Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha is expected to issue a comprehensive statement on the incident.