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Kenya floods: Ruto says schools to reopen on Monday

President William Ruto gestures during at the State House in Nairobi on May 8, 2024,during a meeting with grassroots leaders from Kajiado and Laikipia counties. (Photo: PSC)

By Lucy Mumbi | 08 May 2024

Ruto also declared that Friday, May 10, is a public holiday to remember Kenyans adversely affected by climate change.

Basic learning institutions will reopen for the second term on Monday, May 13, following a delay occasioned by heavy rains and flooding, President William Ruto has announced.

Ruto also declared May 10 a public holiday to remember Kenyans adversely affected by climate change and announced a detailed tree-planting programme to curb climate change.

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“All parents are advised on the assessment of the weathermen and the government of Kenya that it is now safe. Therefore, all schools will be reopened on Monday, next week and parents must prepare their children to go to school,” Ruto said at the State House in Nairobi on Wednesday, during a meeting with grassroots leaders from Kajiado and Laikipia counties.

"Let us use the day to work towards improving our environment."

He added that the government has made adequate arrangements by providing adequate resources through the National GeoData Center (NGDC) for the repair of classrooms and other learning facilities across Kenya.

President William Ruto is pictured with grassroots leaders from Kajiado and Laikipia counties during their meeting at the State House in Nairobi on May 8, 2024. (Photo: PSC)

Ruto's announcements were on the advice of the Kenya Meteorological Department, which has been sending multiple updates daily on the weather conditions to be expected across the country.

The president had, on May 3, ordered that schools remain closed till further notice, their original reopening date already having been postponed by the Education ministry as the public grappled with the deaths and massive property damage and displacement that have come with the March-May long rain season.

"The Ministry of Education is directed to postpone the reopening of all schools in the country for the second time until further notice," he said then.

As of May 7, the national death toll from the floods stood at 238. An update from Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki's Interior ministry added that 174 people had been reported wounded, 75 missing, and 47,000 families, or 235,000 people, displaced.

Kindiki further reported that 167 camps had been set up across 22 counties, hosting 70,451 people, and that approximately 286,011 had been impacted by the heavy rains.

Many of the displaced people have sought refuge at camps set up in schools, so the announcement of the school reopening date adds pressure to their quest to find permanent accommodation and employment, to sustain themselves.

Regarding those isolated by the floodwaters, air and boat rescue operations are ongoing, in joint efforts by county governments, the Kenya Red Cross Society, the Kenya Coast Guard Service, the Kenya Wildlife Service, and other partners.

Where climate change is concerned, Kenya has introduced Mazingira Day, now officially recognised as a public holiday during which Kenyans will take part in various conservation efforts. Replacing Utamaduni Day, it will be marked on October 10.