Gov't urged to suspend school reopening as floods wreak havoc across the country

So far, 150 schools across the country have been affected by floods, with some remaining submerged and with no rooftops hours before the opening date.

Collapsed classrooms, submerged schools, destroyed rooftops—these are scenes ahead of planned school reopening following heavy downpour across the country. 

It is a situation affecting 150 schools where pupils and students are expected to report back for the second term from Monday. 

At Sikinga Primary School in Nambale, Busia County, over 600 learners will be forced to use four classrooms after strong winds blew off iron sheets from 10 classrooms.

Phanice Ngaira, Principal of Sikinga Primary, expressed the magnitude of the loss, stating, "The damage is extensive because besides classrooms, there are desks, chairs, and stationery, things that cannot be repaired, the loss is over a million..."

Joseph Matini, Chairman of Sikinga Primary, appealed for assistance, saying, "We request assistance from anyone who can help us so that we can erect these classrooms and the children can continue with their studies..."

The school is among eight other schools in the county which could be forced to suspend learning to allow for repairs and time for water to subside. In Budalangi Constituency, an area prone to flooding, at least six primary schools and one secondary school have been affected by floods. 

They include Maduwa, Runyu, Bulwani, Budala, Namabusi ACK, and Musoma Secondary School. It is a double tragedy for the over 1,700 victims of floods as they have been ordered out of the schools where they were seeking shelter.

Christine Omondi, a resident of Budalangi, shared her plight, while Raphael Wanjala, MP of Budalangi, echoed the sentiment.

A similar plight is shared by those displaced by floods in Nairobi, who are seeking shelter in nearby schools in Mathare and Kiamaiko.

A section of church and political leaders have voiced their concerns over the reopening of schools at a time when the country is grappling with the effects of floods.

Rev. Thegu Mutahi, Moderator of PCEA, emphasized, "Schools are set to reopen tomorrow but we urge that if there's any place where children could be at risk, those schools should not reopen because we do not want to lose our children..."

Eugene Wamalwa, Party Leader of DAP-K, added, "We want to request that as schools are set to reopen tomorrow, it would have been better if the government considered postponing school reopening because the situation is dire..."

Kalonzo Musyoka, Party Leader of Wiper, stressed the urgency of the matter, stating, "Raila and a team of MPs said this government should declare this an emergency issue, they don't seem to have taken this matter seriously, so these issues are very important..."

The Education Ministry says a multi-agency team has been formed to address the challenges posed by the rains and avert danger among school-going children.