Signs building would collapse were all over, warning ignored

Cracks on the walls, tilted beams and sagging roofs had been reported to the school’s authority by some vigilant pupils, the recent warning being a week ago, without action being taken.

Most of the time, pupils would experience tremors in the shaky classrooms which left them traumatised.

Julius Wainaina and Sheryl Njeri, who are class five pupils at Precious Talent Top Primary School in Dagorreti, said they had alerted their teachers about the risks.

”About a week ago, we saw some cracks in some classes and told the teachers about it. She promised to tell the head teacher, but nothing was done,” said Wainaina. 

A week after the last warning, yesterday at around 6.45am, a wall collapsed killing seven and injuring at least 64 pupils.

Njeri said that she and her classmates had initially thought the sound they heard was rain, but quickly realised that the roof was collapsing.

The girl said she narrowly escaped with the help of a teacher and painfully watched as her best friend lost her life.

“We were seated in class when the roof caved in. The teacher rescued me but fainted at the doorway. My best friend was with me but when I looked back, she wasn’t there,” recalled a visibly shaken Njeri.

At least 60 pupils were treated and discharged from the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).

Hospital acting Chief Executive Officer Evanson Kamuri said they received 64 casualties, with two in critical condition.

He further added that most pupils sustained soft tissue injuries on the face, lips and head.

“We received 64, casualties but at least 60 of them are safe and will be discharged but only in the presence of the parent or guardian after been positively identified,” said Dr Kamuri.

Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie thanked the people of Ngando Ward for their quick response, which minimised casualties.

He further said the Government through the Ministry of Education would put up a new school in the area.

“The office of the CS and the Ministry of Education will release some land for the development of a public primary school in Ngando Ward... Now we can see the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Mr Kiarie

Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha said the pupils will stay at home to pave way for investigations to find the root course of the tragedy, noting that learners will be transferred to nearby primary schools if the institution is found to be risky.

Prof Alfred Omenya, a specialist in green architecture and sustainable urbanism, said he visited Precious Talent School in the morning after the tragedy and noted the following on the technical aspects of the collapsed building.

1. The construction was of very poor quality

2. Construction materials were also of equally poor quality

3. The building had no foundation

4. Building structure was made up of feeble, poor quality timber

5. Walling was made of recycled corrugated iron sheets

6. The building had a first floor slab made of thick concrete, laid on chicken wire, on timber off-cuts

7. The slab was not reinforced, and was too heavy for the timber structure

8. With additional weight of the students (live load). the building was going to collapse one way or another

“On the policy side, I noted that informal areas have these types of schools. The county must realise that development control and the building code is designed foremost to guarantee safety. There is no excuse why such dangerous structures are allowed for churches, schools, etc.,” he said Omenya, who is also the CEO of Eco-Build Africa and former Dean at Techinical Unuversity of Kenya (TUK).

He regretted the Ministry has allowed such schools in neighbourhoods with no basic standards, no fields and were a danger to learners. 

The Government is not building new schools yet is rolling out free primary education while emphasising on 100 per cent transition. []