Fears over learners' safety ahead of schools reopening as River Tana breaches banks

Makere Primary School in Tana River County, with a population of 1,200 pupils, currently stands less than 20 metres from the River Tana.

The existence of the School in Galole Constituency is now at the mercy of the River Tana which continues to expand its banks, drawing land into its waters.

Fourteen metres away from the river, an ECDE class is at the brink of being eroded into the river that swallows 10 metres of the school each day, while 13 Classrooms and an administration block occupying the remaining quarter-acre stand barely 30 metres away.

According to the school's committee members, the river has claimed a water tank, a kitchen, half the school fence, the soccer field and the chief's office in less than a week.

"The river was 300 metres away from the school, today it has consumed more than an acre of the school and every day and night, it takes more with it," said Rashid Jilo, a committee member.

According to Rashid, the school will be washed away in the next three days, making it unsafe for children to report on Monday.

The administration block of the Makere Primary School stands metres away from the River Tana. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein)

Every hour, the river expands, shrinking the size of the school and the village.

Mwanajuma Guyo, the vice chairperson of the school's committee, notes that the River Tana has been eating into the village, soaking the ground before developing rifts that later fall into the water.

"The kitchen was here yesterday, when we woke up today, it was gone. There is a need to find a raised ground for a new school, and we hope the government will consider this," she said.

She reiterates that it will be dangerous to allow pupils into the school, as the trend of the river is unpredictable and may claim a class while children are studying.

Further, she says that the presence of children in the school and other activities like playing may aggravate the erosion.

"We are currently contemplating what to do with the classes, to either start removing the iron sheets, doors and blocks to save them for future use or watch them going into the river because we have so far lost a lot, "she said.

Debris from the kitchen at Makere Primary School that was eroded into River Tana. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein)

Parents' stand

Parents, on the other hand, have resolved to keep their children at home for the term until the Ministry of Education takes action.

They have reiterated that the impending danger facing children when they report to the school may result in loss of lives.

"We can't risk it, that is not a school anymore, it's a death trap. The government that has announced the opening of schools should show us where our children will go to learn for the term," Somoe Hadida said.

Tana River Civil Society Groups have appealed to the government to intervene in Tana River County.

According to CSOs Secretary General James Rashid, the situation in most of the schools is dire, and will not be suitable for children to report to.

"We are talking about 1,200 pupils in a single school and we have more than 15 schools suffering the same problem, they are inhabitable. The ministry should do something for the sake of these children," said Rashid.

Desks removed from the Makere Primary School classrooms amid river erosion fears. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein)

More than 13 Schools and 33 ECDE centres have been affected by the ongoing floods, as water levels spilling from the River Tana keep rising across villages.

Tana River County Commissioner David Koskei however notes that children from schools affected by the floods will be hosted by neighbouring schools, while in other areas the government will facilitate tents.

"The situation is dire, and we don't want children from Tana River to be disadvantaged when it comes to education, so we shall discuss with stakeholders and find a way to help the affected ones sail through the term," he said.

Meanwhile, he has appealed to parents to avoid crossing the flooded areas without proper expert support lest an accident occur.