If Schools Are Reopened, They'll Blame Me- Machogu Defends 1 AM Announcement

Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ezekiel Machogu on Monday, April 29 stood firm on his announcement at 1 am of the government postponing the reopening of all primary and secondary schools by a week to Monday, May 6.

The timing of the crucial announcement, likened by some to the announcement of election results, caused chaos across the country given that it came on the very same day schools were set to reopen for the second term on Monday.

However, Machogu who spoke to Nation.Africa revealed that the decision to extend the reopening date of all schools was informed by data received from various counties that travel has been adversely affected by heavy rains and rampant flooding.

Before the late-night announcement, concerns had persisted about the impact of the heavy rains and flooding on transport infrastructure and road networks, raising questions regarding the feasibility of the resumption of school activities. 

Residents sift through the rubble as they recover their belongings after the Nairobi river burst its banks and destroyed their homes within the Mathare Valley settlement in Nairobi, Kenya on April 25, 2024. /REUTERS

The CS evidenced this decision on data collected on the same on Saturday and Sunday, informing the last-minute decision to postpone the reopening of schools.

“We’re talking about life, which is paramount, leave alone the inconvenience [of the postponement] that people are talking about.

"If schools open in the current situation and something terrible happens, they’ll again blame Machogu. I chose to save lives,” he argued, adding that the Ministry of Education was monitoring the situation very closely.

The timing of the announcement was heavily criticised by Kenyans on social media platforms. To be specific, the Ministry's statement was sent to newsrooms, with journalists circulating the same on their social media accounts. 

Viral Tea, a digital native media house committed to providing real-time news updates, was the first media house in Kenya to break the story on the postponement of the reopening of schools.

The backlash was not the only thing headlining the late announcement. Uniformed students were spotted on Monday morning in various parts of the country headed to school not knowing that the reopening date was pushed by a week.