City Affairs

Five years after tragedy struck, Ruto commissions Ng’ando ward's first public school

President William Ruto rings the bell during the opening of Lenana Primary School in Nairobi on May 13, 2024. (Photo: PCS)

By Maureen Kinyanjui | Monday, May 13, 2024

"I was here five years ago when tragedy struck after the building collapsed and killed students. I was able to mediate and we got a piece of land from Lenana school where we were able to get land," Ruto said.

Five years ago, residents of Ng'ando ward in Nairobi's Dagoretti South sub-county on September 23, 2019, encountered a tragedy that robbed the community of eight children.

A classroom at Previous Talent school collapsed killing eight pupils and causing injuries to 64 others.

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According to the late Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha, there was malpractice in the construction of the ill-fated two-storey structure and termed it a tragedy in waiting.

It was then discovered that Ng'ando ward lacked a public school which could accommodate the high demand of pupils.

Five years later, Ng'ando residents have something to smile about after President William Ruto on Monday commissioned the first public school, Lenana School Primary.

The school with 22 classrooms at the moment will only accommodate children from Grade One to Grade.

"I was here five years ago when tragedy struck after the building collapsed and killed students. I was able to mediate and we got a piece of land from Lenana school where we were able to get land," Ruto said.

President William Ruto during the opening of Lenana Primary School in Nairobi on May 13, 2024. Looking on is Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie. (Photo: PCS)

He was accompanied by Cabinet Secretaries Ezekiel Machogu (Education) and Kithure Kindiki (Interior) as well as several Principal Secretaries among other leaders.

Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie narrated how the new school was a prayer answered as the construction of the school had faced delays.

"As a sub-county, we have suffered in our attempts to construct a public school where we faced a lot of delays as it has taken five years to construct these classrooms" Kiarie said.

The MP highlighted that the first phase of construction had consumed Sh20 million which was provided for through the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG- CDF).

The second phase will include a Junior Secondary School.

He commended the President for giving out orders to have the construction fastened.

On his part, President Ruto pledged to finalise the project by adding 24 classrooms to accommodate more pupils.

President William Ruto interacts with pupils of Lenana Primary School in Nairobi on May 13, 2024. (Photo: PCS)

"The classes we have here are still few. Because we can only accommodate four grades. I have offered to build those new 24 classrooms, it is not the Ministry, I will construct those " he announced.

Ruto said that the Ministry of Education will avail Sh10 million to complete abolition blocks and set up a cabro within the premises.

He ordered the contractor to speed up and complete the work within the next two months.

In two months, the President promised he would be back to open the 24 classrooms.

"I want children in this community to have an adequate space and ambience with complete structures for proper learning to take place," he said.

The Head of State also directed the Nairobi County Government to set up Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) centres.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja announced that Dishi na County will be available for the learners who will report to the newly opened school.

At the school, the President also rang a bell, to mark the official opening of the school for the second term.