The Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Education (CS), Prof. George Magoha has directed that learners from Precious Talent Primary School in Ngando ward, Dagoretti Constituency which collapsed early Monday morning stay away from school four days to enable officials put in place measures that will ensure their safety when learning.
“We have set up a multi-agency group comprising officials from the County government, local leaders, Ministries of Education, Interior and Coordination of National Government and Health to work with the Kenya Red Cross to manage the situation,” said the CS.
Prof. Magoha said the team will also conduct thorough investigations on the possible causes of the tragedy in which seven children lost their lives and 64 others were admitted at Kenyatta National Hospital with injuries.
He said his ministry will continue to provide updates on the situation about the school which is dully registered and has an enrolment of 800 learners.
Government officials who visited the scene included Principal Secretary ICT, Jerome Ochieng and Principal Secretary Basis Education, Dr. Belio Kipsang, Government Spokesperson Col.(Rtd) Cyrus Oguna, Member of Parliament Dagoretti South, John Kiarie and Nairobi Regional Commissioner, Wilson Njega.
Magoha sent a message of condolences to the families, friends and relatives of the School following the death of the seven pupils.
Sending the condolences on behalf of the government, Prof. Magoha said the government is saddened by the tragedy that befell the community of Dagoretti constituency at 8.00 am when a classroom collapsed on class 5 to 8 learners.
“Out of the 64 learners, 62 have soft tissue injuries, two require more attention, while more than 600 underwent safety checks at the nearby St. Mary‘s Catholic Centre,” the CS said
He said government officials visited Kenyatta National Hospital and confirmed that all the learners admitted to the institution are in stable condition.
Magoha said he received the tragic news while on an official engagement in Kisumu forcing him to rush to Nairobi to join other government officials to handle the situation.
By Bernadette Khaduli
