What Kwale governor Fatuma Achani said on president Rutos directive to school reopening 

By Governors Press Service

Kwale governor Fatuma Achani has backed up president Ruto’s Wednesday directive on the reopening of all schools on Monday May, 2024, following the recent report from the Kenya Meteorological Department on the improved weather forecasts, indicating a reduction in heavy rains that had previously necessitated the postponement of school reopening.

According to the Ministry of Education, all schools were to resume on 6th May, 2024 after the temporary closure from the previous opening dates, which were further pushed to 13th May, 2024 by president William Ruto, following the heavy rains that were being experienced across the country.

In this year’s heavy rains, at least 275 people lost their lives, thousands were displaced, and nearly 2000 schools had been affected by the floods.

Achani through her Director for Public Communication Mr. Nicky Gitonga, has agreed with her UDA CEO concerning the Monday 13th, 2024 school opening date, stating that Kwale County has experienced less destruction as a result of the heavy rains.

“The reopening of the schools on Monday is a good idea to me, because most of our children especially the KCSE and the KEPSEA candidates, had the fear of not performing according to their expectation, if they were to stay away from school for a long time as far as syllabus coverage is concerned. But we as the Kwale Couty government thank God, since we have not yet experienced any major destruction apart from the minor ones as compared to other counties across the country.” Said Mr. Nicky Gitonga.

Achani said that only 20 schools across Kwale County had little damages, including the collapse of toilets and some minor cracks which she said will be repaired by the national government through the NG-CDF funds that were allocated to every Constituency as directed by the Head of State.

The 20 schools affected in Kwale include, 7 schools in Matuga, 2 in Lungalunga, 8 in Msambweni, and the rest from Kinango Sub counties, while Samburu and Shimba hills recorded no destruction including all the ECDE.

However, Achani has advised all the parents in Kwale and the country at large, to pay keen attention to the weather patterns, as well as taking into considerations the various advices from the Kenya Meteorological Department, in order to avoid future destructions as encountered previously.

“Safety starts with me and you, don’t wait until floods carries you to start asking the government for assistance, so take early precaution and the government will help you from there.” He spoke.

The governor has also warned fishermen from Tsunza to Vanga from fully resuming their fishing operations in deep seas, saying that the heavy tides as resulted by the Tropical Cyclone Hidaya which hit Indian Ocean East of Tanzania that might result to loss of lives.

“I urge all the fishermen across the county, to remain patient as we wait the Indian Ocean to calm, so that to avoid further losses of lives.”