Day schools in Mombasa, Kakamega six other areas to close on August 29

Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard]

Day schools in eight areas where elections were postponed will close on Monday, August 29 to allow for voting.

The elections that were postponed are Mombasa and Kakamega governorship elections, MP races in Kitui Rural Constituency (Kitui County), Kacheliba Constituency (West Pokot County), Pokot South Constituency (West Pokot County) and Rongai Constituency (Nakuru County).

Others are MCA elections in Nyaki West (North Imenti Constituency, Meru County) and Kwa Njenga (Embakasi South Constituency, Nairobi County).

Addressing journalists on Tuesday, August 23, Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha said the learners will remain at home for only a day.

"We're happy to allow the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to use our facilities in both primary and secondary schools. However, we have agreed that the tallying centers which will require more than one day, will be taken to tertiary institutions," he said.

Magoha added that boarding schools, which will be used as polling stations, will remain in operation.

"The [boarding] students will remain in the fields and libraries. For students in mixed schools, day scholars will go home while boarders will remain in school and away from the polling areas," said the Cabinet Secretary.

Elections in the eight areas were postponed over ballot papers mix-up (Kakamega, Mombasa and Rongai) and pockets of violence in other parts.