This archive report was first published on 23 September 2019.
On September 23, 2019, a devastating tragedy struck Precious Talent School in Kenya, claiming the lives of eight pupils.
The incident occurred at around 6:50 am when the walls of the classrooms caved in, trapping the students inside. The building, which housed junior and upper primary classes, had been constructed with an additional floor without proper approval.
Speaking at the Kenyatta National Hospital, Deputy President William Ruto confirmed that 60 out of the 64 pupils who were injured had been cleared and discharged from hospital. He expressed his gratitude to the doctors for their efforts in ensuring the students' speedy recovery.
Education CS Prof. George Magoha, who visited the school, revealed that there was malpractice in the construction of the ill-fated two-storey structure. He stated that the incident would have been avoided if the school owners had sought approval for the additional floor.
Prof. Magoha emphasized that the owners of the school had constructed the additional floor without anyone's approval, putting the pupils' lives in danger. He added that if the school had remained with a single-storey building, the accident would not have occurred.
The government has since ordered an audit of infrastructure in all schools across the country following the Precious Talent School incident.
