At least 7 killed in Kenya school collapse

At least seven students lost their lives and more than 60 sustained serious injuries when a private school collapsed on Monday morning in the city of Nairobi, Kenya.

More than 600 pupils of the Precious Talent School were treated for superficial injuries and discharged as authorities grappled with the state of schools in the country, especially in low-income regions.

Those with serious injuries were referred to Kenyatta National Hospital emergency care, where two were in critical condition.

The two-story building, made of iron-sheets and wood, caved in and came down as the students had settled in for morning studies. According to residents, 900 pupils attend the school.

Confirming the incident, government spokesperson Colonel (Rtd) Cyrus Oguna said the government was ensuring the injured received emergency care.

By mid-morning, the rescue process had officially come to an end. However, workers from the Red Cross and police were still at the scene. School bags, broken desks and blackboards could be seen in the wreckage.

Stephen Odhiambo, a parent of a student, said he received a call from a fellow parent about the incident. On reaching the scene, he found the pupils still trapped and they immediately started the rescue process. His 9-year old had been admitted to Kenyatta Hospital with head injuries, while his 7-year-old was unhurt and safely at home.

He revealed the school was not in very good condition and this issue had been raised by other parents to the administration.

Meshack Nyabuto, whose 7-year-old child also survived, said there were more than 20 private schools in the area since the only government-sponsored school was very far.

He said students, mostly aged below 14 years, report to school as early as 6:30 am. The first floor of the building collapsed and trapped most of the children below, said Nyabuto, who was also among the first responders.

Beth Zephania, a doctor at St Joseph Health Center, said the injured started streaming in from 7:30 am. Most had slight soft tissue injuries and were taken care of before being discharged.

He revealed students with serious injuries complained of head and chest pains.

Three years ago a government agency warned more than half of the buildings being put up across the country were not safe for occupation. The National Construction Agency noted such buildings used substandard materials and failed to engage professionals in supervision.

More of such buildings are being built in densely populated areas in the city, according to the National Buildings Inspectorate.