Floods Force 1-week Postponement Of School Resumption In Kenya

In response to devastating floods that have claimed over 70 lives, the Kenyan government has announced a delay in the resumption of schools for the second term, which was initially scheduled for this Monday.

The Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Education, Dr. Ezekiel Machogu, confirmed that the reopening of primary and secondary schools nationwide will be pushed back to May 6, 2024.

“The decision to delay school reopening comes after a rigorous assessment of the readiness of educational facilities across the country,” Dr. Machogu stated in a press release issued earlier on Monday.

He emphasised that the ministry had directed field officers to gather data from all Basic Education Learning Institutions since last week to evaluate the impact of the ongoing heavy rains on school infrastructure.

Reports from the Ministry of Education, supported by information from other relevant governmental agencies, indicated that many schools have suffered significant damage due to the inclement weather.

“The devastating effects of the rains in some schools are so severe that it would be imprudent to risk the lives of learners and staff before implementing robust safety measures,” Machogu explained.

The unusual heavy rainy season, which began in March and has intensified due to the El Nino weather pattern, has not only affected the lives of many but also infrastructure. Flash floods have submerged roads and neighbourhoods, displacing approximately 130,000 people from 24,000 households, predominantly in Nairobi, the country’s capital city.

The government’s latest figures released on Saturday revealed the extent of the crisis, noting that nearly one-third of all public schools in Nairobi have been significantly impacted.

While the schools were originally slated to reopen this Monday after the mid-term break, the Ministry of Education has decided that the safety of students and staff take precedence.

“In the meantime, the Ministry will collaborate with relevant agencies and stakeholders to put in place measures to mitigate the adverse effects of the rains and provide regular updates on developments pertaining to the education sector,” assured Machogu.