Day schools in Mombasa and Kakamega counties, as well as six other areas with pending elections will be closed on Monday, August 29 to pave way for the exercise.
Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha on Tuesday announced that the institutions will resume on Tuesday, August 30, after the completion of the elections.
“The IEBC has announced elections on 29th and we understand most schools are required as tallying centres.Tallying centres that may be required for more than one day should be taken to tertiary institutions,” said Prof. Magoha.
The CS however noted that boarding schools will not be closed.
“Children in day schools will remain at home on 29th and report the following day. Boarding schools acting like tallying centres will not be closed,” he stated.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on Monday announced August 29 as the new date for the postponed GeneralElection in various parts of the country.
Governorship elections in Mombasa and Kakamega counties were among the eight elections that IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati announced would be postponed.
The other six are Member of the National Assembly polls in Kitui Rural Constituency (Kitui County), Kacheliba Constituency (West Pokot County), Pokot South Constituency (West Pokot County) and Rongai Constituency (Nakuru County).
The electoral body had also pushed forward elections for Member of County Assembly Wards in Kwa Njenga (Embakasi South Constituency – Nairobi County) and Nyaki West (North Imenti Constituency – Meru County).
CS Magoha at the same time appealed to all school heads to stop sending students home for school fees to protect them from missing out on the marathon calendar the government introduced to recover time lost in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As a country we are going through a difficult time. We must support our children as we get into a very tight schedule. I appeal to the teachers who are still sending students home because of fees. They should stop,” he said.
