This archive report was first published on 27 September 2019.
On Thursday evening, Moses Wainaina, the proprietor of Precious Talents School, was arrested in connection with the collapse of a building that claimed the lives of eight pupils and left 64 others injured.
According to reports, Wainaina spent the night at the Kabete Police Station pending arraignment on Friday.
Before his arrest, the government had shut down the school and directed the pupils to be transferred to other institutions, including Ngong Forest Primary School, Jamhuri Primary School, and Riruta Satellite Primary School.
Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha stated that the closure of the school was a result of recommendations made by a task force set up to investigate the safety of the pupils following the tragedy.
Magoha noted that the school had been registered to admit only 340 learners but had exceeded this number, with over 800 pupils enrolled.
He emphasized that this was a violation of the guidelines set for the school, stating, 'The high enrollment and lack of safe physical facilities with non-compliance of qualified teaching staff, sanitation facilities thus render the registration facility null and void.'
On Monday, Magoha visited the school and observed that the other classrooms were in stable condition, but expressed concern over the unauthorized construction of an additional storey on a temporary structure.
He stated, 'In my most humble opinion, the classes are stable, but you notice somebody went and built another storey on top of a temporary structure.'
Magoha also directed the pupils to remain at home for a week to allow for initial investigations and announced the closure of St. Catherine Bombolulu Primary school, citing similar safety concerns.
