This archive report was first published on 25 September 2019.
On September 25, 2019, Education CS George Magoha stormed a primary school in Kibra, Nairobi, and ordered the transfer of its 207 pupils to a safer school.
Magoha shut down St. Catherine Bombolulu Primary School, citing its unsafe structure, which was built using corrugated iron sheets.
"From now on, any school that looks like what I have shut down today should be closed. Nobody should wait for us to shut them down, we have officers on the ground," Magoha said.
The CS assured parents that the closure and transfers would be done in a humane manner to minimize disruption to the learners.
Magoha also revealed that an audit of schools across the country is underway to ensure that all buildings are safe for learners.
When asked about the funding for the audit, Magoha said, "When it comes to getting funds to ensure that our children don’t die like chicken the way they did, mine will be made available."
The CS took personal responsibility for the tragedy at Precious Talents School, where 8 pupils were killed and over 50 injured after their classroom collapsed.