The owner of Precious Talents Academy and eight Nairobi County government staff have been charged before a Kibera court with several manslaughter charges.
The seven accused appeared before Kibera Chief Magistrate Joyce Gandani where they denied the sixteen charges levelled against them.
There accused were: Moses Wainaina Ndirangu (owner of the school), James Mwaura Mwangi (Nairobi County government public officer), Jasper Ndeke Shadrack (planning, compliance and enforcement officer), Florence Wangari Hungi quality assurance and standard officer) and Freshia Wambui Maingi.
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The others were Sylvia Mwikali Nthanga (planning, compliance and enforcement officer), Elijah Isaboke Okido(education officer), Selina Leparia (public health officer) and Michael Kahungo Gitau (quality assurance officer).
The court heard that on September 23, 2019, at Ngando area Dagoretti sub-county in Nairobi County they unlawfully caused the death of a pupil of Precious Blood Academy Primary School identified as Germine City Njeru.
The nine are also accused of unlawful causing death of Nevence Kimunto, Whitney Naam Wekesa, Mirriam Itago Simbovo, Teddious Kinyanju, Jackline Gesare Nyaberi, Harriet Ndunge Kalili and Emna Kasandi Idambo on the same day and area.
Also, the Nairobi County public health officer Mwaura and Leparia were separately charged with negligence for failure to ensure the safety of pupils of Precious Blood Academy leading to the collapse of a building, causing the death of the eight students.
The county planning compliance and enforcement officers, Ndeke and Mwikali, were also charged with willful negligence for failing to ensure the school building was constructed to the required standard which led to the collapse of the said building.
The court heard that Kahungo and Wangari being the quality assurance and standard officers willfully neglected to ensure quality and safety of the academy leading to the collapse of a building block.
Isaboke, being Dagoretti sub-county education officer, was charged with willful negligence for failing to ensure the safety of the pupils of the precious talent school.
All the accused are out on cash bail.
