ODM leader Raila Odinga has donated Ksh3 million to the benefit of the families of the victims and pupils affected by the Precious Talent School tragedy.
The AU envoy blamed unscrupulous contractors for the deaths of the pupils while condemning cartels, he said, were meddling with the audit of buildings in the country.
“Tutasimama na nyinyi (we will stand with you),” the leader promised the parents, teachers and pupils pledging a donation of Ksh1 million to the construction of a temporary school at Lenana School for the learners.
“Uhuru Kenyatta and I will build a school at Lenana School and this will begin with immediate effect,” he announced.
Raila also told the audience that part of the three million he donated, was President Uhuru Kenyatta' Ksh1 million towards reconstruction and an additional Ksh1 million for the parents of the victims.
In the emotional ceremony at the Ngong Racecourse, schoolmates of the seven pupils who perished in the Monday, September 23, tragedy held a memorial for the departed in which a seven-year-old girl recited an emotional poem that left the audience in tears.
Raila was accompanied by Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris, Senator Millicent Omanga, Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie and other leaders.
While addressing the crowd Raila introduced Imran Okoth, the ODM candidate vying for the Kibra parliamentary sit in the coming by-election to a round of applause from the crowd.
However, there was quite a stir when parents from the school calmly demonstrated at the ceremony demanding that their children should not be transferred to other schools.
“Pupils from Precious Talent School will continue to learn in their school just as they did,” Kiarie affirmed.
The MP thanked members of the Ng'ando community that were first responders when the classroom collapsed.
“The bodaboda people and those close to this school responded first and saved many pupils during the tragic accident,” he added.
The school proprietor, Moses Wainaina, was arrested on Thursday, September 26, in Nairobi.
His arrest came after Education CS George Magoha revoked the license of the school over safety concerns.
