Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha on Monday, September 23, closed Precious Talent School in Dagoretti South Constituency where a two-storey building collapsed killing seven pupils.
Speaking on Live television, CS Magoha announced a 4-day closure of the school even as parents of 64 hospitalised pupils await updates from the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).
"In the meantime, we have asked learners to stay at their homes over the next four days as we put in place adequate measures to ensure their safety of learning.
Magoha visited the site after the incident condoling with the residents as well as shedding light on the next course of action.
"On behalf of the government of Kenya and on my own behalf, i want to convey my deepest condolences to the families, friends, and relatives of the Precious Talent Primary school for the tragedy that befell the community this morning," Magoha condoled.
Magoha also firmly assured Kenyans that children are safe in their schools and there is no need to panic nor bar children from going back to school.
President Uhuru Kenyatta also issued a statement following the incident stating, "My heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies to families of the children affected by the tragedy at Precious Talents Top School in Dagoretti. Our agencies are taking urgent actions to contain the situation and alleviate further suffering."
Opposition leader Raila Odinga also took to his Twitter where he shared a heartwarming message to the bereaved parents.
"My deep and heartfelt condolences to the parents and guardians of pupils who have unfortunately perished at Precious Talent Academy in Dagoreti. May God grant them strength as they struggle with this tragedy. I wish all those injured a quick recovery," posted Raila.
He went on to add the losing young Kenyans in such a tragedy vowing that it was important to get to the bottom of how the incident came to happen.
Magoha who received the news while on official business in Kisumu admitted that he cut it short in order to attend to the situation at Precious talent matter.
He addressed the press at the scene of the collapse where he gave the official statement concerning the progress of the children.
"We have regrettably lost seven young lives, with 64 learners admitted at KNH. Sixty two soft tissue injuries and two are in critical condition. Also, more than 600 learners underwent safety checks at the nearby St. Mary's Catholic Centre," he confirmed.
Other government officials together with the education CS later visited the patients in KNH confirming that they were in stable condition and had even been fed.
A classroom full of pupils on Monday at 7 am collapsed at Precious Talent School along Ngong Road in Nairobi.
Kenya Red Cross Scociety confirmed the incident at the time it occured, stating that emergency teams had responded and were working to evacuate the injured.
