Kongo Primary School in Kiambu Sub-county is among schools in the country which failed to open for the second day due to flooding.
The school which is envisaged by two private coffee farms is not accessible by pupils since the entire entrance of the school is flooded.
According to Priscilla Wanjiru, a teacher in the school said that the institution which has a population of over 300 pupils is posed by another risk of two man made dams which has since broken their banks.
“As you come along the main road, a man-made dam has broken its banks and water is flowing on the road. There is another dam which is within the school compound and just a few meters from the school. The school’s main entrance all the way to the classrooms is flooded,” Wanjiru said.
She said that the school is surrounded by thickets where the school watchman had made a cut through a shortcut for the pupils to access the school.
“The Ministry of Education (MoE) officials and the area MCA assessed the situation and found that the shortcut is not safe for the pupils to pass through because it might be infested by snakes and other dangerous animals,” she said.
“We know that young children love to play in the water and we are afraid that they might think of going for a swim or play in the water and yet there are no adults to look after.”
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The man made dams are home to several hippopotamus which have been seen roaming near the school which is a danger to the pupils.
Teresiah Mueni, a parent, said that they could not send their children to school due to the danger posed by floods and the MoE should find alternatives for the pupils to learn and not be left behind.
“The water is a lot and if the ministry could find a way to cut a passage for the water to move out of the school and also clear the road to school it will be better for our children. For now let them stay at home,” Mueni said.
John Mbugua, another parent said that the situation is bad since they have no way of removing water out of the school and the roads to the school are also impassable. “The school is inside the coffee plantations where there is no habitation which poses a danger for our children if left unattended,” he said.
Lawrence Mwaura, Ting’ang’a Ward MCA said that it is not possible for the pupils to attend school as there is no accessibility with the area also being infested by snakes since the area has a lot of quarries and have been filled with water making the snakes move out.
“The dams have got hippos and on the ground there are snakes which have come out of the hiding places due to water and this is a threat to our children,” Mwaura said.
He said that the neighbouring school ACK Kamiti Anmer Primary School where the pupils of Kongo can be relocated has a challenge of collapsed toilets making it an impossible task.
“The Kamiti Anmer School administration in conjunction with the parents have come together and are raising funds to rebuild the collapsed toilets at a cost of KSh170,000 so as to retain the learners in school,” he said.
He said that both National and vounty governments should team up and address the matter and provide learners with a conducive environment for learning.
Machua Waithaka, Kiambu Member of Parliament said that through the NG-CDF emergency kitty the affected schools situation will be addressed.
“The flooding in Kongo Primary we are addressing the situation and meanwhile the pupils will be accommodated in the neighbouring schools so that they are not left behind by other learners. The toilets which have collapsed will also be rebuilt as we ensure there is a good conducive environment for the learners,” Machua said.
A spot check of the learning process in the sub county showed that most of the schools have resumed and are continuing well with their learning.
By Felix Wanderi
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