[PHOTOS] Schools in ruins as nature's wrath takes toll

A spot check at a school in Nairobi's Mathare slums shows wrecked classrooms.

In Summary
  • Schools were intially scheduled to reopen on April 29, but the Ministry of Education had pushed the date to Monday, May 6.
  • President William Ruto said in his address to the nation on Friday the reopening has been postponed indefinitely in light of the heavy rains.
by EMMANUEL WANJALA Radio, Print & Digital Reporter
InPictures
03 May 2024 - 19:30
Smudged books outside a muddy classroom at Mathare North Primary School affected by floods, May 3, 2024.
Smudged books outside a muddy classroom at Mathare North Primary School affected by floods, May 3, 2024.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A

Torrential rains that have been pounding various parts of the country have unleashed devastating floods, costing hundreds of lives and destroying property worth millions of shillings.

Among those on the receiving end are learning institutions where some schools have reported either filled-up or sunk toilets as floods took a heavy toll on their structural integrity.

Other school infrastructure like classrooms have not been spared either, prompting the government to postpone schools reopening for Second Term twice twice in a week.

"The Ministry of Education is directed to postpone the dates of the reopening of all schools in the country for the second term until further notice," President William Ruto said in his address to the nation on Friday.

Schools were intially scheduled to reopen on April 29, but the Ministry of Education had pushed the date to Monday, May 6.

A spot check at Mathare North Primary School in Ruaraka Constituency shows a sorry state; fallen classroom walls, muddy waters in classrooms and smudged books. 

A partly destroyed classroom at Mathare North Primary School in Ruaraka Constituency after heavy rainfall pounded Nairobi Thursday night, May 3, 2024.
A partly destroyed classroom at Mathare North Primary School in Ruaraka Constituency after heavy rainfall pounded Nairobi Thursday night, May 3, 2024.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
Muddy waters outside classrooms at Mathare North Primary School in Ruaraka Constituency following heavy rains that pounded Nairobi Thursday night, May 3, 2024.
Muddy waters outside classrooms at Mathare North Primary School in Ruaraka Constituency following heavy rains that pounded Nairobi Thursday night, May 3, 2024.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
Smudged books outside a muddy classroom at Mathare North Primary School affected by floods, May 3, 2024.
Smudged books outside a muddy classroom at Mathare North Primary School affected by floods, May 3, 2024.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
A classroom full of muddy water at Mathare North Primary School in Ruaraka Constituency after heavy rains caused flooding in Nairobi, May 3, 2024.
A classroom full of muddy water at Mathare North Primary School in Ruaraka Constituency after heavy rains caused flooding in Nairobi, May 3, 2024.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
A classroom at Mathare North Primary School in Ruaraka Constituency after heavy rainfall pounded Nairobi Thursday night, May 3, 2024.
A classroom at Mathare North Primary School in Ruaraka Constituency after heavy rainfall pounded Nairobi Thursday night, May 3, 2024.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
Smudged books inside a muddy classroom at Mathare North Primary School affected by floods, May 3, 2024.
Smudged books inside a muddy classroom at Mathare North Primary School affected by floods, May 3, 2024.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
Smudged books inside a muddy classroom at Mathare North Primary School affected by floods, May 3, 2024.
Smudged books inside a muddy classroom at Mathare North Primary School affected by floods, May 3, 2024.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
A muddy environment outside classrooms at Mathare North Primary School affected by floods, May 3, 2024.
A muddy environment outside classrooms at Mathare North Primary School affected by floods, May 3, 2024.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
Smudged books and computer inside a muddy classroom at Mathare North Primary School affected by floods, May 3, 2024.
Smudged books and computer inside a muddy classroom at Mathare North Primary School affected by floods, May 3, 2024.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
Smudged books outside a muddy classroom at Mathare North Primary School affected by floods, May 3, 2024.
Smudged books outside a muddy classroom at Mathare North Primary School affected by floods, May 3, 2024.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
A classroom at Mathare North Primary School in Ruaraka Constituency after heavy rainfall pounded Nairobi Thursday night, May 3, 2024.
A classroom at Mathare North Primary School in Ruaraka Constituency after heavy rainfall pounded Nairobi Thursday night, May 3, 2024.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
A classroom at Mathare North Primary School in Ruaraka Constituency after heavy rainfall pounded Nairobi Thursday night, May 3, 2024.
A classroom at Mathare North Primary School in Ruaraka Constituency after heavy rainfall pounded Nairobi Thursday night, May 3, 2024.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
Broken desks inside a classroom at Mathare North Primary School in Ruaraka Constituency after the aftermath of floods following heavy rains, May 3, 2024.
Broken desks inside a classroom at Mathare North Primary School in Ruaraka Constituency after the aftermath of floods following heavy rains, May 3, 2024.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
A classroom at Mathare North Primary School in Ruaraka Constituency after heavy rainfall pounded Nairobi Thursday night, May 3, 2024.
A classroom at Mathare North Primary School in Ruaraka Constituency after heavy rainfall pounded Nairobi Thursday night, May 3, 2024.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A

Also see:

Ruto postpones reopening of all schools until further notice

Schools were set to reopen on May 6.
News
2 weeks ago

Kenya orders flood evacuations as it warns dams could spill

Recent heavy rains have caused severe flooding and landslides across Kenya.
News
2 weeks ago

Brace for very heavy rainfall today in Nairobi – Met

“stay weather-aware” for the “heavy to very heavy” rainfall.
News
2 weeks ago
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by EMMANUEL WANJALA Radio, Print & Digital Reporter
InPictures
03 May 2024 - 19:30

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