This archive report was first published on 25 September 2019.
On September 23, 2019, a devastating tragedy struck Precious Talents Academy in Nairobi, claiming the lives of eight innocent children. The incident sparked widespread outrage and calls for justice, with many Kenyans demanding that those responsible be held accountable.
However, nearly a month after the tragedy, the man at the center of the disaster, Moses Wainaina, remains a free man. The police and the Directorate of Criminal Investigation have yet to take any significant action, and the provincial administration and the Education ministry seem to be turning a blind eye to the situation.
Meanwhile, Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has suspended 16 officials suspected of being involved in the approvals for the school, but this move has been met with skepticism, with many seeing it as a half-hearted attempt to address the issue.
Contrast this with the swift action taken in 2016, when a building collapsed in Huruma estate in Nairobi, killing 51 people and injuring dozens. The proprietor was arrested and charged with 52 counts of manslaughter, and three officials from the Nairobi City County and the National Construction Authority were also taken into custody.
It is unacceptable that the law enforcement agencies are moving at a glacial pace in this case, allowing the suspects to go scot-free. The Director of Public Prosecution must take up the matter and direct investigations and subsequent trials to ensure that justice is served.
