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Calls for the postponement of the re-opening of schools following the raging floods across  the country intensified yesterday even as the government affirmed that all systems were in place to enable learning to resume.

Led by Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) party leader, Eugene Wamalwa and Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a,  they urged the government to consider postponing the start of second term for at least two weeks, saying many families have been displaced by floods.

“A majority of those who have lost their lives are adults and when schools are reopened in this situation, children could be in danger. If adults can be swept away by floods, the children will not be safe so we need to see how it should be postponed, which will also give chance for capitation to also be disbursed to schools,” said Wamalwa during a church service at ACK St Stephen’s Jogoo Road in Nairobi.

Ng’ang’a said the heavy rains may put to risk the lives of learners traveling back to schools.

“We would rather delay the reopening date than risk losing our children as a result of the ongoing flooding. People should heed warnings from the weatherman,” Ng’ang’a said, as she issued bursary cheques to about 10,000 secondary school learners from the constituency.

But speaking separately, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua ruled out any postponement affirming that schools would re-open today to allow children continue with learning.

“You know we must open schools so that our children can continue learning. We have therefore agreed, with all due respect that those in schools will be relocated so that schools can reopen,” said Rigathi.

He was speaking at Valley Bridge Primary School in Huruma yesterday where he distributed relief supplies to flood victims of Nairobi’s Kiamaiko and Mathare area.

He said the government has set aside Sh1 billion to support affected families in Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) regions.

Exercise caution

In Nairobi, Gachagua said three camps for displaced persons will be established at Masinde Muliro grounds, Mavoko Assistant Chief’s camp and in Kasarani and the Government, together with development partners will assist them in settling down, at least for the moment.

Gachagua urged Kenyans to exercise caution, especially now that the weatherman has warned that the rains will continue, even as he directed that all those near water bodies to move voluntarily.

He also stated that the Government has instructed Kenya Urban Roads Authority (Kura) to reconstruct 26 bridges destroyed in Nairobi.

This came even as Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome separately issued traffic advisories as school reopen.

“As schools reopen this week, I urge all road users to exercise caution to ensure safety of our children and other road users. This new term coincides with heavy rains, creating hazardous road conditions because of flooding and damaged infrastructure. Road users should not underestimate the dangers of rain and flooding, as even shallow pools can hide deep potholes or deep currents,” Murkomen said.

He warned that drivers who endanger lives of other road users by ignoring traffic regulations or crossing dangerous waters will be held accountable for their actions.

Similarly, he urged parents to release children on their trips back to school early.

Koome said that while police and NTSA have been deployed on major highways, motorists should cooperate with the law enforcement officers to improve on service delivery.

In Nyanza, learning institutions are also staring at uncertainties of resuming after the April holiday break.

In Nyando, there are fears that learning may fail to take off in some schools as a result of floods, as many displaced families continue to camp there.

Among affected schools are Ombaka, Nyamasao and Magina primary schools. Others are Kanyagwal, Kandaria and Odienya secondary schools.

Kisumu County Commissioner Benson Leparmorijo said they are analysing the situation with a consideration of relocating the families to alternative places for shelter until the rains subside.

In Homa Bay, several families are camping at Osodo Primary School in Karachuonyo constituency after River Sondu Miriu broke its banks and swept through to neighbouring villages.