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Kwale schools impacted by floods to utilise social halls for reopening next week

Kwale County Governor Fatuma Achani addresses the press in her office on May 9, 2024. (Photo: Mishi Gongo/EV)

By Mishi Gongo | Friday, May 10, 2024

On Friday Kwale County Governor Fatuma Achani said the county is moving fast to repair the 20 schools affected by the rains to allow students to resume studies.

The Kwale County government has advised teachers whose schools have been affected by the heavy rains to use social halls as the county embarks on repairing the damages ahead of the school reopening date.

The county said the children have already lost a week of learning so they cannot be kept at home any further.

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The Ministry of Education announced that all schools will reopen on May 6, 2024, after a temporary postponement due to severe rains. President William Ruto pushed the opening date to May 13, 2024.

The decision was reached after receiving word from the Kenya Meteorological Department that the rains had subsided.

On Friday Kwale County Governor Fatuma Achani said the county is moving fast to repair the 20 schools affected by the rains to allow students to resume studies.

"We thank God that the effects of the rains were not adverse in our region. Only 20 schools sustained minor damages that can be repaired in a week," said the governor.

The national government will fix the minor damages, such as toilet collapses, leaky roofs, and small cracks, at the 20 affected schools, according to Fatuma. These repairs will be made with money from the NG-CDF.

She said the affected schools will be ready for use by the end of next week.

"We cannot take risks, the cracked walls might collapse and injure our children so we have started the repair to ensure that our children are safe," she said.

The 20 schools affected in Kwale include seven schools in Matuga, two in Lungalunga, eight in Msambweni, and the rest from Kinango Sub counties, while Samburu and Shimba hills recorded no destruction including all the ECDE.

Let's all be cautious of the weather patterns, and follow the meteorological advice to avoid loss of lives and damage.

"Safety starts with you and me, don't wait until floods carry you to start asking the government for assistance, take precautions and the government will help you from there," she said.

The governor also asked parents to escort their children to school to prevent cases of kids drowning in water pans.

"The rains have left behind stagnated waters. We do not want cases of children drowning in these water pits so parents and guardians please escort your children to school to avoid calamities," she said.