This morning parents, teachers, and education stakeholders woke up to a rude awakening. The Ministry of Education, through its CS Machogu, announced the postponement of school opening day on the very morning teachers and pupils were to report to school.
In a circular deployed to the newsrooms, the government cited, “The devastating effects of the rains in some of the schools are so severe that it will be imprudent to risk the lives of learners and staff before water-tight 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,”.
Social media was awash with rage as people took turns to call the government insensitive and behaving with ineptitude.
Nairobi Emergency Meeting
Nairobi Governor, J. Sakaja, convened an emergency meeting this morning, with the county’s apparatus, to discuss among other issues: mitigating the rain situation through infrastructural and humanitarian support and assessing how public schools were affected. Senator Sifuna, MPs TJ Kanjwang, Beatrice Elachi, Mwenje, George Aladwa, Antony Oluoch, and Julius Mawathe of Embakasi North.
The government has been heavily criticized for slow response and unclear strategies to secure the lives and livelihoods of thousands of its citizens affected by the ongoing rains. Despite 10B being set aside last year, by Deputy President Gachagua, nothing seems to be moving on the ground.
The National Parents Association came out last week calling on a joint deliberation to postpone the school’s opening date but their pleas were met by a deaf ear from the government. Only for it to turn around on the 11th hour, straining the situation further.
The MET Department has put the public on high alert. They said the rains are expected to continue for the next 90 days. Necessary measures both on the national and personal levels are advised.
