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Uncertainty looms as floods destroy schools in Tana River

An aerial view of Tana River showing extensive flooding on April 28, 2024. (Photo: Handout)

By Farhiya Hussein | 09 May 2024

Abad Kunyo, the Tana River Executive for Education, has highlighted the dire situation, revealing that over 30 ECDE centres are currently unfit for learning.

As schools prepare to reopen for the second term, Tana River County faces ongoing uncertainty due to recent devastating floods.

The floods have taken a heavy toll on educational institutions in Tana River County, with approximately 33 Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centres, 12 primary schools, and 14 secondary schools affected.

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These floods have not only disrupted learning environments but also put the education of numerous students at risk, exacerbating the challenges faced by the already fragile educational infrastructure in the region.

Abad Kunyo, the Tana River Executive for Education, has highlighted the dire situation, revealing that over 30 ECDE centres are currently unfit for learning.

"We are strategising to ensure uninterrupted learning, including setting up larger tents in respective camps to facilitate teaching," he stated.

Kunyo stressed the need for teachers to mobilise parents and ensure children attend designated learning areas.

However, he expressed concern that more learning centres could be affected as the region braces for increased water flow from the Seven Forks Dams, potentially exacerbating the crisis in the Tana Delta.

Tana River County Commissioner David Koskei confirmed that one school has already been submerged by the floods, with several others at risk of similar fate across the county. He assured that the disaster risk management committee is actively implementing measures to safeguard lives and will advise the government accordingly.

"We cannot compromise the safety of children and teachers. As the county anticipates the impact of incoming floods, we remain vigilant to mitigate risks," Koskei said, particularly highlighting potential disruptions in Tana Delta, where more than 10 schools are under threat.

To address the imminent challenges, Koskei mentioned increased surveillance and the establishment of an information desk to promptly respond to alerts from villages.

"We have moved people to safety and we are still looking out for more as we advise them to move, we may never know the volumes of water coming downstream so we are taking maximum caution to ensure we don't lose more lives beyond the boat tragedy," he said.

Gregory Okal, Acting Kenya Red Cross Coordinator, emphasised the urgency of the situation, particularly in the coming days when the impact of water from the Seven Forks Dams is expected to escalate in Tana Delta. He highlighted the critical need for support, especially for those in IDP camps who have lost homes and livelihoods.

"With over 80,000 people displaced and roads threatened, immediate assistance is vital to prevent starvation and exposure-related deaths," Okal said, underscoring the urgency of providing aid to affected communities.