Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha yesterday succumbed to pressure from parents and other education stakeholders and apologised for the government’s move to abruptly close all basic learning institutions.

He said the move was not ill intentioned but was to allow the electoral commission commence early preparations for Tuesday’s elections.

“This is a very serious government that takes seriously the welfare of the children, especially at this transition period,” he said. He was speaking yesterday after commissioning the Sh100 million Eliud Kipchoge Library Complex in Nandi county.

There was a public outcry on Tuesday after Magoha  ordered all schools closed from August 2 to 11, causing confusion as most institutions had not made any arrangements for learners to travel.

“I hereby convey the government’s decision on the immediate closure of all basic education institutions from Tuesday, August 2 until Wednesday, August 10 to ensure that preparations and conduct of upcoming elections is carried out seamlessly,” the CS said in a statement on Monday.

Food supplies

The notice caught many schools unawares with some forced to cut short their continuous assessment tests.

Many schools also incurred  huge losses, as they had purchased food supplies, most of them perishable, which they had planned to last them until tomorrow.

Kipchoge Library is named after world marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge. It was funded by President Uhuru Kenyatta as a personal gift to the athlete for putting Kenya’s name on the world map.

It is situated at Kapsisiywa Primary School where Kipchoge schooled. County Commissioner Herman Shambi pledged that the government will provide round-the-clock security to protect the library, which has been stocked with modern equipment and books.

Kipchoge lauded President Uhuru for agreeing to his request to construct the library at his school to benefit the local community.