Kayole tragedy: Families demand justice as manhunt for building owner begins

Families of two pupils who died at Emmanuel New Life Learning Centre in Nairobi’s Kayole estate are demanding answers from authorities after their children were killed when concrete blocks from a neighbouring building under construction collapsed onto their school.

The grieving parents are calling for a thorough investigation and the prosecution of those responsible for the tragedy.

On Tuesday, officials from various government agencies visited the school on a fact-finding mission to establish what led to the incident, even as a manhunt for the owner of the ill-fated building gets underway. 

Shock and grief engulfed Emmanuel Academy in Kayole as parents returned to the scene where two pupils lost their lives in Monday’s tragedy. Heartbroken parents struggled to come to terms with the painful loss of their children.

“The child left in the morning to the school. At lunchtime, the mother took lunch. At around 13 hours, I received a call that all was not well. As I came back, I received another call that my child has died,” said John Onyango, the father of Ashley Joy.

Two pupils died instantly at Emmanuel Academy after concrete blocks from a neighbouring building under construction collapsed onto them.

Two others sustained severe injuries and remain in critical condition at the Kenyatta National Hospital. Among the deceased was PP2 pupil Liz Wambui.

Her distraught mother broke down upon viewing her body and revisiting the scene of the tragedy. Liz’s grandmother said the young girl had been the family’s hope, supporting her struggling mother after the loss of their last-born just three months ago.

Now, the grief-stricken family mourns the loss of both children, a heartbreak too heavy to bear.

“Watu wenye wanaeza tusaidia tusafirishe mwili tunaweza shukuru. Tafadhali mtusaidie, hii imetuacha na uchungu sana,” said Elizabeth Wambui, Liz’s grandmother.

The family of young Ashley Joy is also in mourning. She was among the two pupils who lost their lives when the concrete blocks came crashing down.

Both Ashley and Liz were preparing to graduate on the 24th of this month, but the tragic incident has cut short their dreams.

“Alikuwa afanyiwe graduation tarehe 24 na mimi ndio nimekuwa nikimsaidia. Sasa hii kuangukiwa na mawe imetuwacha pabaya. Watoto wote wamekufa, sasa mamake amebaki bila mtoto,” Elizabeth Wambui added.

“Imagine mtoto kutoka nyumbani aende shule alafu unaitiwa maiti. Hiyo ni mbaya sana,” said John Onyango, Ashley’s father.

On Tuesday, officials from the sub-county education office, local administration, police, and DCI detectives returned to the school for a fact-finding mission.

They later recorded statements from the school’s management and the parents of the deceased pupils. Njiru sub-county DCI boss confirmed that investigations are underway to trace the owner of the building linked to the tragedy.

Detectives are probing how the construction was approved, who the engineer was, and whether the site met the required safety standards.