ODM leader Raila Odinga Attends the Requiem Mass of Precious Talent School Pupils (PHOTO: COURTESY)
ODM leader Raila Odinga and Jubilee candidate in the Kibra by-elections, MacDonald Mariga were among the hundreds of mourners that turned up for the requiem mass of the eight Precious Talent School pupils who perished on Monday.
A sombre mood engulfed mourners, as they took glimpses of pictures of the deceased pupils that were placed on tables covered in white and green linen adorned with wreaths of roses.
ODM leader Raila Odinga, Dagorreti South MP John Kiarie, Nairobi Women Rep Esther Passaris & Kibera Jubilee candidate, McDonald Mariga among those present at the Precious Talents School memorial service. #K24DailyBrief pic.twitter.com/6tx5Oc61ko
— K24 TV (@K24Tv) September 27, 2019
The pupils mourned their schoolmates who left a void in their families and the nation at large.
Wanafunzi wa shule ya Precious Talent wawaomboleza wenzao wanane waliofariki baada ya mkasa kwenye shule hiyo #SemaNaCitizen pic.twitter.com/5hY20cojMt
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) September 27, 2019
Organisers of the mass said they could not display caskets of the pupils due to the nature of the tragedy. The bodies are lying at city mortuary and are to be handed over to the families later on Friday.
Read Also: ‘Stop Insulting the Poor!’ Linus Kaikai Tells Sonko Over Precious Talent School Tragedy
The pupils died after a classroom collapsed on them, killing eight and leaving 65 others injured.
Requem Mass of 8 pupils Young souls who perished on Monday at Precious Talents Academy Ngando Dagoretti South is underway at Dogoretti Grounds. pic.twitter.com/fqdMKd0fau
— Radio Citizen (@RadioCitizenFM) September 27, 2019
The owner of the school Moses Ndirangu was however not present after he was arrested on Thursday over the tragedy. It is alleged that he had constructed the building using chicken wire mesh.
Its unfortunate to lose as a country, such promising kids given that they met their death while doing what they were supposed to be doing – learning.
My condolences go out to all the parents and affected families. #PreciousTalentSchool— Prof. Simon N. Gicharu (@SimonNGicharu) September 23, 2019
On Friday, Ndirangu was detained for 15 days to allow for investigations into the matter.
Kibera Chief Magistrate Joyce Gandani ordered police to get reports from Ministry of Education and Urban Planning.
“Death of a single pupil is catastrophic. Thorough investigations need to be conducted,” she said.
Education CS George Magoha revoked the school’s licence and ordered that remaining pupils transfer to the nearby Ngong Forest Primary School, Jamhuri Primary School and Riruta Satellite Primary School.
Magoha has also ordered the closure of Greenfields Academy in Kwale County over poor infrastructure.
Speaking in Kwale on Friday, Magoha asked 400 affected pupils from Greenfield to seek refuge at Umoja primary school.
“Umoja public school has wonderful buildings, enough water, teachers are there and it has excess capacity that can absorb all those children from Greenfield academy,” he said.
Noting that crackdown on illegal structures will continue countrywide, Magoha said 1,500 officers from the ministry are checking buildings in schools.
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