Nyamira County stops school renovation over learners' safety

Nyamira County has issued a stop order for the renovation of a four storey building at Kuura Mixed Secondary School in Bosamaro Ward after residents raised concerns over student safety.

Construction of the classrooms at the school in West Mugirango constituency was completed in 2016 and has been in use until the school management decided to renovate it.

Deep trenches had been dug on the ground floor for erection of beams to support the already shaky building.

Residents said they feared for the safety of learners at the school due to the risk posed by the trenches because the building is used by majority of learners.

"Our children are not safe at all.  We call upon the relevant authorities concerned to move with speed and save our children from perishing with the kind of works going on in this building,” Geoffrey Mosoti said.

The contractor, Fredrick Ososi, told the media that he was only contracted to plaster and fix windows on the fourth floor but when he assembled materials for the exercise, he noticed the entire building was sagging and raised the issue with the school management.

He said the management inquired about what should be done to stabilise  the building and he advised that it should be reenforced with extra beams in all the four floors.

Ososi said the repair works started without approval or any documentation from relevant authorities for the building to be renovated or reinforced.

Lands, Housing and Urban Development CEC Steve Oboso confirmed that no approvals from key departments had been issued.

This was after the County government of Nyamira through, Lands, Housing and Urban Development department and Transport, Roads and Public Works officials visited the school and stopped any further construction until assessment was done to ascertain whether the construction will go on or the entire building should be brought down.

Oboso said lack of risk assessment and approvals endangered the lives of learners who were to occupy the building when schools reopen for second term in May.

"It is unfortunate but we have taken serious steps including stopping any construction or renovation on the said building until our team of engineers from the county have established the suitability of the building," Oboso told the media in his office.

"If it will pass the assessment merit then we will give greenlight, but if it does not, we will have no option that to have the entire building brought down,” he added.