Kenya School Delay: Floods Force One-Week Postponement

The Education Ministry in Kenya has delayed the reopening of schools by one week due to ongoing floods caused by heavy rainfall. Some school buildings have been adversely impacted by the flooding, with over 100 reportedly damaged or destroyed, according to local media reports. Originally scheduled to open on May 2nd, classes will now begin on May 6th as a result of this postponement. The flood-related death toll in Kenya has reached ninety-three since mid-March, with the number expected to rise following a boat capsize that occurred last night in Garissa county’s northern region. Rescue efforts by the Kenyan Red Cross have resulted in twenty-three individuals being saved from the vessel; however, over a dozen people are still missing at this time. Heavy rainfall has been affecting Kenya since mid-March and is expected to continue according to weather forecasts issued by the Meteorology Department. The East African region as a whole is currently experiencing flooding due to heavy rains, with one hundred fifty deaths reported in Tanzania and over two hundred thousand individuals affected in neighboring Burundi so far this year. Nairobi has been particularly hard-hit; according to police records, the majority of flood-related fatalities have occurred there. On Saturday, Kenya’s main airport was flooded as a result of ongoing renovations that are set for completion in June, which were temporarily compromised by heavy rains overwhelming an interim drainage system installed by contractors. Over two hundred thousand individuals across the country have been impacted by these floods, with many homes situated on low-lying areas becoming submerged and forcing residents to seek refuge in schools as a result of this crisis. President William Ruto has instructed Kenya’s National Youth Service (NYS) to provide land for use as temporary campsites for those affected by the flooding.