Photos: Learners left stranded after CS Machogu postpones schools' reopening

Learners have been left stranded across the country after Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu postponed the reopening of schools at around 1 am today.

Parents, students, and education stakeholders were caught off guard by the late announcement issued on the reopening date, Monday, April 29, 2024.

While postponing the reopening date to Monday, May 6, CS Machogu cited flooding as a result of the rains and backed his decision with data from all Basic Education Learning Institutions, which assists the government in assessing the readiness of the schools for the Second Term.

However, parents wondered why the communication was issued hours before students began travelling, causing panic and confusion countrywide.

Nairobi CBD 

Parents and students stranded at Tea Room Bus Station on Monday, April 29, 2024, after the Ministry of Education postponed schools' reopening to May 6, 2024, due to heavy rainfall. (Photo: Justine Ondieki)

Many parents found themselves stuck with their children in bus stations, having travelled early in the morning only to learn about the delay upon their arrival in Nairobi Central Business District.

A concerned citizen who spoke to the Eastleigh Voice lamented that his sibling was driving back to Nairobi with his children after dropping them off at school outside the city.

"He has to drive back to Nairobi with them because he is at work and there is no one at home. And then next week, he will undergo the same hustle of taking them to school," the message sent to the Eastleigh Voice read.

Florence, a parent affected by the delay, expressed her dissatisfaction, saying, “I had woken up early at 5 am and was already in town by 5:45 am when I heard about the postponement. The Ministry could have informed us earlier, which would have helped us better prepare and avoid unnecessary expenses like hiked fares."

“For now, we are just stranded," Florence added, lamenting paying up to Sh1,000 for the fare from Nairobi to Kamatungu Boarding Primary School in Tharaka, Eastern Province.

However, some parents acknowledged the need for the delay in light of the current floods, which pose a risk for commuters.

“It's better for them to stay home than to risk their lives travelling to and being at school,” noted another parent whose daughters were to attend Mbooni Girls High School in Makueni County, currently experiencing severe flooding and infrastructural damage.

Students at Moi Avenue Primary School in Nairobi had already started reporting back to school but were returned home upon arrival.

“We knew about the postponement early in the morning, but some parents, who hadn’t heard about it, brought their children only to take them back home,” a teacher at the school said.

She described the ministry's timing of the announcement as despicable, adding that they had a whole month to figure out the gravity of the situation before gambling with students' lives.

Students of Moi Avenue School returning home after the reopening of schools was postponed on April 29, 2024 (Photo: Justine Ondieki)

“These rains have been ongoing for a month, and a more timely decision could have avoided this confusion,” she said.

Another teacher echoed the frustrations, adding, “It shows how, at large, the government is working in an uncoordinated way yet they have information at hand. Some parents whose kids go to boarding schools have already released their kids amid financial struggles. Again, the communication was done more on social media than the mainstream media, which most of us are accustomed to."

At Our Lady of Mercy Girls Primary School in Kamukunji sub-county, the management stated that they were ready to receive students, contrary to reports circulated on social media. The reports alleged that the school was unprepared for reopening due to flooding and blocked toilets, raising concerns among parents and stakeholders.

"We were ready for opening. The message that was going around was false," said the school's headteacher, Monica Leshampta

The source of the flooding was traced back to a contractor working on a road adjacent to the school who inadvertently obstructed the outlet of the sewage system, causing the waste products to overflow into the school compound, flooding classrooms, and blocking toilets.

Upon notification by the school's headteacher, the contractor promptly rectified the issue by removing the obstruction, allowing the sewage system to function properly again. Subsequently, the toilets were cleaned, and all blockages were cleared.

Additionally, some classrooms are experiencing water leakage, posing a potential threat to the structural integrity of the buildings. Teachers fear that the leakage could lead to further damage.

Despite the swift resolution, the compound is still muddy with overgrown grass in the field, presenting an obstacle for the school administration, which expects students to resume studies on Monday next week.

"The school is not able to cut down the grass. We need help from the sub-county administrations," Leshampta requested, insisting that her institution is the only girls' primary school in the Kamukunji sub-county.

Transport coordinators also criticised the late announcement by Machogu, stating that their plans were thrown out of the window.

Anex, a matatu operator working with Maua Shark, described the chaos, saying, “Students were carried from Maua at 4 am and arrived in Nairobi very early. After learning about the postponement, we had to send them back. It's a lot of confusion and an added financial burden as transport costs have spiked since Friday due to a shortage of cars."

Mombasa County 

In Mombasa County, the streets lay deserted as only a handful of students trickled back to school as early as 6 am, painting a picture of a quiet morning. Parents were observed escorting their children back home after learning of the changes mid-journey.

Several day schools were compelled to turn away students in adherence to the Ministry of Education's directive.

At Sheikh Abdallah Al Farsy Secondary School, students were politely turned away with instructions to return the following Monday, highlighting the challenges educational institutions face in aligning with government orders.

Meanwhile, the Mombasa County Government has intensified efforts to mitigate flooding risks.

Deputy Governor Francis Thoya emphasised implementing diverse strategies to minimise flooding, particularly in vulnerable areas like Links Road. He further stressed the importance of establishing robust drainage systems, emphasising that obstructed watercourses must be cleared to allow water to flow freely.

More parents complain

Mbooni Girls Secondary school students stuck at the Tea Room Bus Station in Nairobi on Monday, April 29, 2024. (Photo: Justine Ondieki)

Maureen Akinyi, a teacher at Rehema Academy, says that around 70 kids had reported back to school early in the morning but were sent back immediately after they saw the announcement.

"The ministry communicated with us belatedly. We first became aware of the announcement when it started circulating on WhatsApp and needed to verify its authenticity. We had already prepared various meals for the children, including breakfast and lunch. Among these was githeri, a dish that requires overnight cooking, prepared in anticipation of today's needs. Now, with the change in plans, we are uncertain about what to do with these meals. Consequently, we had to contact each parent to arrange for their children to be picked up," teacher Akinyi stated.

She added that the staff had reported back to school, with some travelling from as far as Nakuru.

Gerald Kariuki, a parent who had prepared his four kids for school, stated that he was in utter disbelief at the announcement made late in the night.

"How are we expected to keep up with information that spreads on social media, especially when the children are already up and heading to school by 5 am? I don't use social media, and the school wasn't able to inform us in time either, as they only saw the announcement late. It's frustrating to be left out of the loop like this," Gerald complained.

In Kajiado, a late-breaking school-related announcement triggered an influx of calls from worried parents to school administrators, causing a significant disruption in communication lines. The delayed dissemination of the announcement resulted in widespread anxiety among families, many of whom were unprepared for the sudden developments.

"I had just taken my brother to school yesterday, braving miles of heavy rain," said Tunu Tiyyo, reflecting on the challenges faced by many in the community.

"When we saw the announcement today, it just added to our worries," he added.

The timing of the announcement has been particularly challenging for those who only learned of it today, leaving them scrambling for answers.

"We tried calling the school for some clarity, but it's been impossible to get through. Every parent is trying to do the same," Tunu further complained.

Law Society of Kenya President 

At the same time, the President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) strongly criticised the government’s last-minute decision to postpone the reopening of schools, citing it as a “shocking knee-jerk reaction” to the ongoing flooding crisis.

In a statement on Monday, LSK President Faith Odhiambo expressed grave concerns over the government’s handling of the situation, highlighting the dire consequences faced by students, teachers, and parents across the country.

“While flooding is an act of nature, the loss of lives on account of the poor response by the government has been disastrous. The sudden announcement of the postponement has left many learners stranded and uncertain about their safety as they attempt to navigate through flooded areas to reach school,” Odhiambo stated.

The LSK President emphasised the need for urgent and strategic action by a multi-agency team comprising government departments, county governments, and relevant stakeholders to ensure the safety of travellers, particularly vulnerable learners.

“There is little public confidence that the same Government that has failed to take any action for weeks will have the capacity to respond within just one week to the extensive damage that has already been caused,” Odhiambo remarked

Urging a coordinated effort to address the crisis, the LSK President called for equitable consideration in setting different opening dates for various regions, especially in the context of upcoming national examinations.

Reporting by Hanifa Adan, Lucy Mumbi, Farhiya Hussein, Abdirahman Khalif and Maureen Kinyanjui.