Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko was on Monday, September 23, linked to the collapsed classroom at Precious Talent School in Dagoretti which has so far claimed seven lives.
As rescue operations are ongoing, the school owner Mr Moses Wainaina pointed a finger at the Nairobi County government over a recent project that had affected the integrity of the school's structures.
The stated that the collapse came about after the county administration recently dug a sewer line behind the classrooms.
This, he explained had compromised the building's foundation, “They had good intentions to help this school but an accident has happened,” he stated amid shouts from angry parents.
Wainaina stated that the school had more 800 pupils in an area without any public schools.
Attempts to reach Sonko's team for a response were futile as calls and messages went unanswered.
An eyewitness who spoke to journalists stated that the two-storey building collapsed at 6:50 am.
The collapsed classroom was housing junior pupils, but the most affected are class six, seven and eight pupils who were on the ground floor.
"Some children have run away. No teachers are around and we tried looking for them. We mobilised the bodaboda riders to take the injured students to the hospital," the distraught resident explained.
Among the first senior government officials to arrive at the scene was Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang who did not address the media only stating that investigations were underway and a report given later.
Government Spokesperson Cyrus Oguna, who was also at the scene gave a preliminary report to the media.
"We are saddened by the tragedy. We can only give you indicative figures. following the collapse of the building, there have been seven fatalities. 57 students who have been injured have been taken to hospital," Oguna stated.
He stated that Education CS Prof George Magoha would give a comprehensive statement in the afternoon.
