Busia Schools to Wait longer for Reopening as Floods Wreak Havoc

Busia Schools to wait longer for reopening as Floods Wreak Havoc

Busia schools will take longer to reopen as floods batter the county. 

Even if the government has postponed the reopening of schools for the second term by a week, several educational institutions in Busia County will have to wait longer before classes begin. 

Floods from the Nzoia River and Lake Victoria have rendered the schools inaccessible. 

Namabusi and Budalang’i secondary schools, as well as Musoma, Buluani, Maduwa, Runyu, Makunda, Rugunga, Rwambua, and Iranya primary schools, have been marooned. 

Strong winds blew off ten classroom roofs at Nambale’s Sikinga Primary School, leaving only four in decent shape. 

Due to torrential rainfall and flooding across the country, Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu extended the school holidays by a week last Sunday. 

While the Nzoia River has overflowed its banks, Lake Victoria is witnessing a backflow of water, flooding adjacent homes, stores, and educational institutions in the region. 

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Parents in Busia County are concerned that the raging floods could sweep away students, particularly those in lower grades.

Mr. Peter Ouma, whose home in Mabinju village has been made untenable, expressed concern that if the excessive rains persisted, they might lose even more property. 

He stated that even if the rest of the schools opened on Monday, their children would have nowhere to go because the facilities in that area were in bad shape. 

Maumau, Mang’ong’o, and Mudembi marketplaces were closed after floodwaters flooded all of the surrounding structures. 

More than 1700 families have been relocated to the Bunyala sub-county. 

Budalang’i MP Raphael Wanjala has joined other opposition leaders in urging President William Ruto to declare the current floods a national catastrophe and send military personnel to the affected districts for rescue and humanitarian help. 

Mr. Wanjala stated that the number of deaths recorded across the country, as well as the scale of the floods, necessitated immediate action by government and non-government entities, including the military, the National Youth Service, and the Kenya Red Cross.

Mr. Wanjala stated that his electorate was in desperate need of assistance following floods that impacted all of Bunyala South, parts of Bunyala West, and Bunyala North. 

Mr. Wanjala stated that they wanted the government to urgently deploy the military to the area to construct an extension of the Nzoia River dyke, which would help control flooding in the area. 

He mentioned that the whole of Bunyala South Ward was submerged, Maumau, the main market, was now inaccessible, Mabinju Bridge was impassable, and shops and homesteads had been destroyed. 

He emphasized the need for urgent intervention to bring life back to Bunyala. 

The MP also wants the Busia County government to purchase water master equipment to open up tiny rivers and ensure the smooth flow of water in the region. 

He stated that the impacted schools should not be opened because this would expose students to the risks of water-borne infections. 

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He noted that the government should find a way to ensure that all displaced children have access to education from wherever they are. He added that some have lost books and other school equipment that need to be provided before schools open. 

He urged Kenya Red Cross authorities to ensure that relief goods given by all stakeholders are distributed equally to all victims.

Busia Schools to wait longer for reopening as Floods Wreak Havoc

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