Raila faults judiciary over order on reopening of schools

ODM leader Raila Odinga has criticised the Judiciary over a recent ruling on reopening of schools in the country.

Also Read: Schools to be reopened only after complying with COVID-19 rules – court

Mr. Odinga said it is regrettable that a court issued an injunction yet the government conducted proper surveillance and established that they can begin partial reopening of learning institutions.

“Wataalamu wameamua shule zinaweza kufunguliwa. Watoto wamekaa nyumbani kwa muda mrefu zaidi hata wazazi wengine wamechoka na watoto na wamesema watoto warudi shuleni. Lakini mtu mmoja anaenda mahakamani na mahakama zetu siku hizi sijui wana nia gani. Wanatoa injunction ati watoto wasirudi shuleni. Sheria isitumike kufanya serikali isifanye kazi yake,” he said on Sunday.

The ODM leader who was speaking during a fundraising at the St. Michael’s and All Angels Cathedral Bondo ACK church in Bondo stated that the government cannot be a enslaved by the Judiciary.

He noted that it is high time that schools reopened so that growth of the education sector can resume.

According to Mr. Odinga, teachers also want to return to school because they have been at home for too long.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has since welcomed the Ministry of Education’s announcement that schools in Kenya will reopen from October 12.

The closure of schools in March this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, interrupted learning for over 17 million students who missed more than six months of formal education.

“UNICEF welcomes the phased reopening of schools in Kenya,” Maniza Zaman UNICEF Representative to Kenya, said.

She added: “We know that that the longer children are out of school, the greater the risk that the poorest among them will never return. They may be sent off to work, married off too early, or face other risks that can curb their development and well-being.”

To help with the safe reopening of schools, UNICEF said it has worked with the Government on guidelines for schools and is continuing to distribute soap and install hand-washing facilities.

UNICEF said it will also be supporting the Ministry of Education with a ‘Back to School’ campaign, which aims to ensure that all children, including those had previously dropped out, return to schools safely when they reopen.