Kenya has postponed the reopening of schools for the second term session by one week due to flooding that has killed over 70 citizens. The resumption, which was supposed to commence today (Monday), has been delayed until May 6. This was announced in a statement by Dr. Ezekiel Machogu, the Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Education, on Monday.
Dr. Machogu stated, “In the face of the ongoing heavy rains, the Ministry of Education directed its field officers last week to submit data from all Basic Education Learning Institutions countrywide to assist the Government in assessing the readiness of the schools for the Second Term opening on Monday, April 29, 2024.
“Reports received at the Ministry of Education, corroborated with data from other relevant Government agencies, showed that a number of schools in various regions of the country have been adversely affected by the rains. The devastating effects of the rains in some of the schools are so severe that it would be imprudent to risk the lives of learners and staff before watertight measures are put in place to ensure adequate safety of all affected school communities.
“Based on this assessment, the Ministry of Education has resolved to postpone the reopening of all primary and secondary schools by one week, to Monday, May 6, 2024.”
The ministry, however, assured that measures to mitigate the adverse effects of the rains would be put in place. Dr. Machogu assured, “In the meantime, the Ministry will work with relevant agencies and stakeholders to put in place measures to mitigate the adverse effects of the rains and provide regular updates on all developments as pertain to the education sector.”
Kenya has experienced an unusually heavy rainy season since March, reportedly resulting in the deaths of 76 individuals. This, according to reports, was exacerbated by the El Nino weather pattern. The torrential rain caused flash floods, submerging roads and neighborhoods, forcing over 130,000 people from 24,000 households to seek displacement.
On Saturday, the government released figures indicating that many affected people are in the capital city of Nairobi. Also, nearly one-third of all public schools in Nairobi have been significantly impacted by the flooding, according to Belio Kipsang, the principal secretary for education.
The schools were originally scheduled to reopen on Monday after the mid-term holidays but have been postponed by the education ministry due to the extensive damage caused by the heavy monsoon rains to numerous educational facilities across the country.
