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Education ministry tasked to work with NG-CDF to rehabilitate schools damaged by floods

President William Ruto chairs cabinet meeting at State House , Nairobi on May 2, 2024

By Maureen Kinyanjui | 02 May 2024

At least 1,967 schools are reported to have been affected by the floods as reported by the Ministry of Interior on May 2, 2024.

The Ministry of Education has been tasked to work with the National Government Constituency Development Fund to repair and rehabilitate schools damaged by floods.

During a cabinet meeting on Thursday, it was noted that numerous schools have been seriously damaged by the floods, some were inundated, while others are occupied by people displaced by mudslides, landslides, and floods.

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President William Ruto chaired the meeting, which is the second this week to address the continuous rains and their consequences.

"On the adverse effects of weather conditions on schools, Cabinet was informed that infrastructure, including classrooms, dormitories, halls, toilets, latrines fences, and perimeter walls, has been destroyed," reads the cabinet dispatch.

At least 1,967 schools are reported to have been affected by the floods as reported by the Ministry of Interior on May 2, 2024.

Also, the Ezekiel Machogu-led ministry was directed to work with the National Government Constituency Development Fund so that funding is made available for the repair and rehabilitation of destroyed infrastructure.

At the same time, the Cabinet endorsed the Ministry of Education's decision to postpone the reopening of schools by one week. Schools will now reopen on May 6.

To ensure the safety of learners, the Ministry on Monday opted to extend the reopening of schools by one week to May 6, 2024, stating that proceeding with the scheduled reopening on April, 29, could jeopardise the safety of both learners and educational staff.

The total death toll due to floods as of Thursday morning was 188 since the heavy rains started.

The Ministry of Interior, in a statement, said 125 individuals have been reported injured, with 90 people currently missing.

The torrential rains have displaced 33,100 families, affecting about 165,500 people, while the Kithure Kindiki-led government reported that 196,296 individuals have been affected.

In response to the crisis, the Interior Ministry said that the government has mobilised emergency response teams and deployed resources to the affected areas.

President William Ruto at Ngeya Girls Secondary School in Mai Mahiu, Nakuru County when he went to console families affected by the flash floods on April 30, 2024. (Photo: PCS)

In Mai Mahiu, Nakuru County, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) have been actively involved in search and rescue operations following the devastating man-made gulley burst.

The efforts have resulted in the retrieval of 52 bodies, with 51 people still missing.

In Narok County, collaboration between emergency teams, security forces, and the Red Cross has led to the successful evacuation of 90 individuals stranded by flooding in the Masai Mara where 19 lodges were flooded after River Talek overflowed.

"No fatalities have been reported and a tracing desk has been set up at the Masai Mara Sekenani Gate," said the Ministry.

Kindiki has revealed that 400 National Youth Service (NYS) personnel have been deployed to Narok County to boost the ongoing rescue operations.

Furthermore, a nationwide assessment of dams has been conducted, identifying 192 dams as high-risk areas.

The dams are located in Central (60), Eastern (39), Rift Valley (29), Coast (22), Western (21), Nairobi (12), North Eastern (5), and Nyanza (4)