No classes in 8 electoral areas as residents vote 

Education Cabinet Secretary Prof George Magoha yesterday said day schools in eight electoral areas with pending elections will be closed to pave way for Monday’s polls.

The CS, however, clarified that day scholars will resume learning on Tuesday while boarding schools in the affected areas will not be closed.

The affected areas include Mombasa and Kakamega where elections for governors will be held, Kitui Rural, Kacheliba, Pokot South and Rongai for parliamentary seat as well as Nyaki West and Kwa Njenga for Ward positions.

Magoha was speaking yesterday after commissioning Competency Based Curriculum classrooms in Mutuini Secondary and Precious Blood Rituta in Nairobi.

“As far as day schools are concerned, we think one day is not bad enough. Learners can stay at home on Monday and report back on Tuesday,” he explained.

The CS also said the ministry and the electoral commission chair Wafula Chebukati agreed to relocate tallying centres to tertiary institutions in those regions.

 “IEBC has pronounced itself with regards to elections basically in Kakamega, Mombasa, some parliamentary and county assembly ones. The ones that concern us mostly are the big ones in Kakamega and Mombasa,” Magoha said.

Schools re-opened last Thursday after a two-week break, to allow for the August 9 General Election. 

The CS postponed reopening twice since the exercise took longer than anticipated but assured that learners have settled well and normal programme is underway.

He at the same time maintained that national examinations will be taken as scheduled, saying so far there are no plans to make adjustments even in the midst of an uncertain political environment.

“It is our sincere prayer that the exam will be done as scheduled,” he said.

Last week, Magoha said schools will not be closed in the event of a repeat election in a bid to cover for the lost time in the already constrained academic calendar.

Meanwhile, Kenya Kwanza and Azimio are leaving nothing to chance as they battle for Kakamega governorship seat.

 Coalitions are employing all manner of tactics to woo the over 800,000 voters as the clock continues to tick towards Monday.

Opponents yesterday made efforts to reach all corners of the county using both choppers and vehicles ahead of Friday when the official campaigns will come to a close. Azimio has formulated a multi-pronged approach in their campaigns with their 10 MPs-elect pitching camp in their respective constituencies.

 Women Rep Elsie Muhanda is also conducting parallel campaigns for their candidate Fernandes Barasa.  So are the 45 MCAs who have been instructed to lock their Wards from outgoing Senator Cleophas Malalah, the Kenya Kwanza flag-bearer.

Comebacks

 Malalah, accompanied by his running-mate Beatrice Inyangala, traversed Lurambi, Malava, Shinyalu and Mumias East constituencies.  The absence of Senator-elect Boni Khalwale in his campaigns has, however, caused ripples within the ranks of Kenya Kwanza. 

Malulu Injendi, who secured a third-term as the MP for Malava on Amani National Congress ticket, has also been missing in action.  But an undeterred Malalah intensified his onslaught on Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, whom he accused of using his office to frustrate their campaigns.  “County administrators working in cohorts with Oparanya are using funds meant for health operations to bribe voters; and we have put them on notice,” he said. 

On the other hand, Barasa and his running mate Ayub Savula, who were in the neighbouring Likuyani constituency urged residents to vote “a team with the capacity to manage funds allocated to the county appropriately”.  “One of our priorities in the first 100 days after being sworn in is to push for the necessary pieces of legislation that will establish a Ward Fund where each of the 60  Wards will receive Sh20 million annually to spur development at the grassroots,” Barasa said.

Mombasa governor candidates have also hit the ground running to make last minute appeals to electorate in the quest to succeed Governor Hassan Joho. Race attracts several potential candidates among them ODM’s Abdulswamand Nassir, United Democratic Alliance’s Hassan Omar and Vibrant Democratic party candidate Awiti Bollo.

Omar has embarked on door-to-door campaigns to convince electorates to elect him.”All we desire is dignified life for Mombasa people and Kenya,” Omar said during a meet the people tour in Kongowea area.

He is backed by former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko and outgoing Kisauni MP Ali Mbogo. The Orange party brigade remained upbeat that Nassir will carry the day.

– Reporting by Irene Githinji, Dennis Lumiti, Harrison Kivisu