This archive report was first published on 26 September 2019.
On September 23, 2019, a devastating building collapse at Precious Talents School in Nairobi claimed the lives of eight pupils and left several others injured.
Following the tragedy, Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha announced that the government had revoked the operating license of Precious Talents School as part of a crackdown on schools with substandard infrastructure.
The approximately 800 pupils who were at Precious Talents School at the time of the incident will be transferred to nearby schools. Ngong Forest Primary School will take in 480 learners, while 180 will be transferred to Jamhuri Primary School and 130 to Riruta Satellite Primary School.
According to Magoha, the Ministry of Education will provide desks and books for the learners at their new schools.
Prof. Magoha had previously indicated that there was malpractice in the construction of the ill-fated two-storey structure, stating that the tragedy would have been avoided had the rules been followed.
Addressing the press, Magoha said that owners of the school constructed an additional floor to the single-storey building without seeking approval, placing the pupils' lives in danger.
“I have been to all the other classrooms and in my most humble opinion they are stable. So if a spade must be called a spade ahead of the investigations, you notice that somebody went and built another storey on top of the temporary structure. If you go ahead and do so without anybody's approval I think we should be fair to each other including being fair to government,” said Magoha.
Prof. Magoha also announced the closure of Pama Academy in Kangemi, where 472 children will be transferred to Kihumbuini and new Kihumbuini Schools. Additionally, St. Catherine's Children Educational Centre in Kibra was shut down due to its substandard structures.
CS Magoha has warned that the government will not stop until all schools with substandard structures are shut down.
