Murkomen Issues 5 Directives To Motorists Ahead Of School Reopening

Transport Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen has urged all road users to exercise caution to ensure the safety of school children ahead of schools reopening for the second term on Monday, April 29.

Murkomen in a statement to newsrooms remarked that the upcoming second term coincides with the heavy rainfall and downpours across the country which has created, among other things, hazardous road conditions due to flooding and damaged infrastructure.

He thus urged road users not to underestimate the dangers of rain and flooding, as even shallow pools can hide deep potholes or deep currents.

President William Ruto hands out KCPE and KPSEA exam papers to candidates at Kikuyu Township Primary School in Kiambu on October 30, 2023. /PCS

To minimise risks, drivers were advised to maintain a safe distance, slow down and exercise patience in areas with heavy rain or flooding.

"Even as the Government, through the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and the Police, intensify enforcement of traffic rules, I encourage road users to take personal responsibility by avoiding risky behaviours such as speeding or overloading and helping to report reckless driving," he stated in part.

The CS warned that drivers who endanger the lives of other road users by ignoring traffic regulations or crossing dangerous waters will be held accountable for their actions.

He added that parents also play a key role in ensuring the safety of their children even as they are expected to report back to school for the new term.

"They should choose safe routes and coordinate with school administrators to set up safe pick-up and drop-off points. They should also release children on their trips back to school early," he added.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has maintained that schools will reopen for the second term next week despite the ongoing heavy rains and flooding across the country.

However, concerns persist 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. 

Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang revealed on Friday, April 26 that the Ministry had begun to analyse the situation in Nairobi County, in particular, hinting that 64 schools in the capital could have their opening dates rescheduled owing to the destruction of classrooms and washrooms.

"In Nairobi County, we have 64 schools which are substantially affected in class and washrooms. In Nairobi, we decided to deal with them as local issues so that we don't need to ask all schools not to open but we can deal with them on isolated cases.

"This is because in Nairobi we have 210 public schools and 800 private schools. For the 64 we might delay their opening," he stated.

Meanwhile, the Kenya Meteorological Department has warned of more heavy downpours in Nairobi on Sunday evening.