Scattered examination papers, lunch boxes and school bags were part of the debris of the collapsed structure at Precious Talent Academy.
The tragedy claimed eight lives, leaving a trail of horror, pain and grief in its wake.
The accident came, ironically, a day after the institution conducted a prayers for candidates in this year’s KCPE.
Education CS George Magoha closed the school for four days and announced the pupils will be transferred to public schools.
The institution accommodated over 800 learners on a non-permanent structure of green iron sheets and timber. Only the administration block is a permanent building.
Details of the collapsed one-storey building indicate that the slab dividing the two floors was made from concrete mortar reinforced by a chain-link.
Preliminary investigations by regulators in the construction industry flagged the collapsed building as sub-standard.
The National Construction Authority on Monday questioned the logic behind setting concrete mortar on a makeshift structure.
“What we are seeing here is not even comprehensive. We do not understand who could have done this. It cannot even be used to do a toilet. Even if you did a pit latrine and put a slab on it, you could not do what they have done here,” an NCA official said.
The collapsed building hosted classes five, six, seven and eight on the ground floor while the top floor hosted classes two, three and four.
Witnesses said the children who lost their lives were on the ground floor and were trapped.
The school is in a slum in Ngando village in the Dagoretti South subcounty.
It was established in 2009 and first registered for KCPE in 2012.
The Star yesterday established that the school leased the piece of land from one Samuel Ngurai.
It is on a quarter acre, although the Education Ministry demands that a school must have at least half an acre of land in urban areas to be registered. In rural areas at least two acres are required.
Further questions surround the validity of the school's license as it fails to meet requirements prescribed by the ministry.
The institution had just two toilets for over 800 learners against the ministry recommendation of one toilet for 40 learners.
Nathaniel Matalanga, secretary Institution Engineers of Kenya, said the classrooms crumbled due to structural failure.
The school’s director Moses Ndirangu was arrested in connection to the incident.
Nairobi regional police commander Philip Ndolo said Ndirangu was nabbed to assist with ongoing investigations.
He said the school was issued with an operational permit by the Education ministry only to host 350 pupils but had over 800.
“He has to explain several issues to help in establishing what really transpired,” Ndolo told the Star on the phone.
SCHOOL HOURS
The 6:40am tragedy now lifts the lid on the contentious issue surrounding official school hours.
The Education Ministry indicates that official operating days for all day public or private schools are from Monday to Friday.
The institutions are expected to open doors at 8am to 3.30pm for classes. The time from and 3.30pm to 4.45pm is for co-curriculum activities.
“No day institution of basic education and training shall require learners to report earlier than 7.15 am,” the regulations read.
Parents who spoke to the Star yesterday revealed that the institution had gained popularity for being convenient and affordable.
“We pay school fees on a monthly basis. The first month I pay Sh2,400 and then Sh2,000 for the remaining two months in a term,” Jamila, a Grade 2 parent said.