UASIN GISHU COUNTY, KENYA – A cloud of grief hangs over Queen of Angels Academy in Turbo after a pit latrine tragically collapsed on Thursday morning, killing three young pupils and leaving one still unaccounted for.
The horrific incident occurred as children were reporting to school for Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) registration. Rescue operations led by emergency teams managed to retrieve three lifeless bodies, while the search continues for the missing child, believed to be trapped in the rubble.
HEAVY RAINS BLAMED, BUT COMMUNITY DEMANDS ACCOUNTABILITY
According to Turbo Assistant County Commissioner Charles Cheseto, the disaster was precipitated by overnight heavy rains that weakened the structural integrity of the pit latrine.
“The latrine had been properly constructed, but the consistent downpour severely compromised its foundation,” Cheseto told reporters.
Despite the explanation, outrage and frustration are growing among parents and local residents, who believe the tragedy was preventable.
PARENTS BLAST BUILDING STANDARDS AND NEGLIGENCE
Distraught parents and school stakeholders are now blaming shoddy construction, poor oversight, and negligence for the loss of innocent lives.
“We’ve become greedy builders and dishonest people,” lamented Josephat Ayora, a grieving parent.
Another concerned parent, Mercy Chero, pointed out the lack of adequate infrastructure and overcrowding:
“The same toilets our ECDE children use are also shared by teachers. It’s unacceptable.”
SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE UNDER SCRUTINY
The incident has reignited a national conversation on school safety, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas where many institutions still rely on makeshift sanitation facilities. Queen of Angels Academy now finds itself at the center of this storm, as calls for government intervention, funding, and regulation intensify.
The deceased children’s bodies have been moved to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary in Eldoret, as investigations into the cause of the collapse and potential liability get underway.
