- “Day scholars should remain home for that day, boarders should remain in school and remain away from polling areas,” Magoha said.
- The elections, which were to be held on August 9, were pushed to August 23 after the commission realised a mistake on the ballot papers.
Image: WINNIE WANJIKU
Learners in day schools in Kakamega and Mombasa counties will break for one day to pave way for the postponed gubernatorial elections.
This will also apply to schools in the other constituencies where the electoral agency had postponed the election to August 29.
Education CS George Magoha said the ministry reached an agreement with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.
He spoke during the commissioning of a CBC classroom at Mutuini Secondary School in Dagoretti on Tuesday.
“One day is not bad so children can stay home on Monday, August 29 and report back on August 30,” Magoha said.
The elections, which were to be held on August 9, were pushed to August 23 after the commission realised a mistake on the ballot papers.
IEBC twice suspended Mombasa and Kakamega gubernatorial elections and four constituency seats - Pokot South, Kitui Rural, Rongai, and Kacheliba.
Magoha also said learners in boarding schools will not be sent home.
He said they will remain within the school premises, under the care of teachers.
“For polling centres, children will remain in boarding houses, field and libraries,” Magoha said.
The CS urged teachers in boarding schools to watch over students who will be within the school.
For schools, which have both boarding and day programmes, he said the rules will be similar.
“Day scholars should remain home for that day, boarders should remain in school and remain away from polling areas,” he said.
Magoha however said the IEBC should move tallying centres from primary and secondary schools, to tertiary institutions.
In Kakamega county, schools that will be used as constituency tallying centres are Friends Church, Lumakanda, Likuyani Rcea, Moi Girls Nangili, Malava Boys, Kakamega Hill School, Chebuyusi Boys and Mumias West ACK Hall.
Others are Mumias East Shianda Polytechnic, Bulimbo Girls, Butere Girls, Khwisero Ack, St John's Khwisero Secondary, St Agnes Shibuye Girls and Makhokho Secondary School.
In Mombasa, schools that will be used as constituency tallying centres are Kmtc Port Reitz Campus, Mikindani Primary School, Shanzu TTC and NITA.
Others are Mtongwe Primary, Mvita Sheikh Nassor Kibwana Hall and Allidina Visram High School.
According to a gazette notice by the IEBC, 15 of the 47 counties will have tallying centres in schools.
The counties are Mombasa, Embu, Kiambu, Nakuru, Trans Nzoia, Kakamega, Tana River, Nyeri, Kapsabet and Vihiga.
Others are Machakos, Isiolo, Murang'a, Laikipia and Nyamira.
The schools are Bandari Maritime Academy, Mau Mau Secondary, Isiolo Boys, Kangaru Girls, Nyeri Primary and Kiambu High.
Also, Kitale School Girls’, Kapsabet Boys, Nanyuki High, Nakuru Boys, Kakamega High, Chavakali High and Kebirigo Boys.
Another 17 institutions of higher education were used as county tallying centres.
The institutions are Pwani University, Taita Taveta University, Garissa University, Wote TTI, Turkana University College, Eldoret Polytechnic, Maasai Mara University and Masaai TTI.
Others are St Giuseppina Bakhita TTI, Mabanga Farmers Training College, Busia ATC, Tom Mboya Labour College, Tom Mboya University College, Migori TTC, Kisii Polytechnic and Kericho TTC.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)