Parents urge state to prioritise rural schools damaged by floods

Lilian Akoth assesses the damage to her home in K'Obura, Kisumu County. [Michael Mute, Standard]

President William Ruto’s announcement that Sh1 billion has been set aside to construct classrooms damaged by floods has elicited mixed reactions.

A section of Budalang’i residents in Busia county, where at least 14 schools have been submerged by floods, wondered why the government was silent about the learners’ plight in the area.

Busia County Education Director James Ekalyio noted that at least 12 classrooms out of 14 have been damaged in various schools in Budalang’i where about 10,000 students risk missing out on learning. 

The affected primary schools include Bukoma, Maduwa, Bulwani, Budalaa, Musoma, and Lunyofu.

Ekalyio said some schools have been serving as evacuation centres. 

Bukoma and Namabusi Secondary Schools in Budalang’i are completely submerged and not accessible.

In Teso North Constituency, Amoni, Kaejo, Kapkuyi, Kajei Primary Schools, Kamolo Secondary School and Kolanya Girls are also submerged.

“We have more than 12 schools that are completely underwater in Budalangi and Teso North constituencies, and if the situation persists, our children will lack a place to learn from,” said Elkayio.

A section of parents living in temporary camps asked the president to prioritise rural schools affected by floods.

In Busia, UNICEF has pledged to provide tents for learning when schools reopen.

“We have more than 10,000 pupils from Junior and upper secondary schools who are affected, and UNICEF has promised to help us with the tents. We are also going to take some of the students to nearby schools, which are at least safer, so that they can continue with their learning, and we are just waiting for the government to finalize the data collection of the affected students,” said Elkayio.

On Monday, the President said the government will support all families affected by floods in various parts of the country.

Ruto regretted that the floods have caused death and destruction of property for thousands of Kenyans across the country.

Speaking at Kiamaiko in Mathare, Nairobi, when he assessed the flooding situation, the Head of State announced that Sh1 billion has been allocated for the construction of classrooms damaged by floods.

He said that each household affected by floods would be given Sh10,000 to look for alternative accommodation for three months.

"We've identified 40,000 households affected by floods in Nairobi. We will give each household Sh10,000," he said.

Ruto assured that the affected families will be given priority in the allocation of 20,000 affordable housing units, which will soon be advertised for construction.

He thanked Kenyans for heeding the government's call to vacate riparian reserves.

President Ruto urged Kenyans to intensify planting trees across the country to mitigate the effects of climate change.

"We will work closely with community-based organizations in cleaning and planting trees along the Nairobi River," the President said.