President Ruto has directed the Ministry of Education to delay school re-opening nationwide due to the flooding emergency caused by the ongoing heavy rainfall.
Speaking to the nation on Friday, President Ruto announced that school re-opening date would be postponed “until further notice”, citing the likelihood of worsening conditions in the upcoming days.
Schools were initially scheduled to re-open on April 29, 2024, but was rescheduled to May 6, 2024, owing to the disruptions caused by the intense rainfall.
“No corner of our country has been spared from this havoc. The re-opening date of our schools after the April holidays, which was scheduled for Monday this week, had to be varied. Transportation has become challenging in many parts of the country due to flooded and damaged roads and bridges and the threat of raging rivers and overflowing dams in downstream regions,” said President Ruto.
“The Ministry of Education is directed to postpone school re-opening in the country for the second term until further notice,” President Ruto said on Friday.
The Head of State further stated that the floods had claimed the lives of 210 people thus far, with numerous others sustaining injuries and significant damage to properties of undetermined value.
“Sadly, we have not seen the last of this perilous period, as the situation is expected to escalate. Meteorological reports paint a dire picture: The rains will persist, increasing both in duration and intensity for the rest of this month and possibly after,” he said.
The President further urged MPs to reallocate their CDF allocations to prioritize the reconstruction of school infrastrucure that has been adversely affected by the floods.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior has received directives to oversee the relocation and evacuation of affected citizens, identify suitable sites for temporary shelter for displaced individuals, and supervise overall support initiatives.
The government has also identified 178 dams and water reservoirs across 33 counties, situated on both public and private lands, which are currently at full capacity and pose imminent threats to nearby settlements.
High-risk areas prone to landslides and mudslides in various counties have been identified, prompting the evacuation of residents from these vulnerable settlements.
