Save the Children has faulted the move by the government to shut schools in Nairobi, Kisumu and Mombasa counties
This is after the Ministry of Interior and that of Education in a joint statement on Tuesday announced the closure of all day primary and secondary schools in the three counties due to the Azimio protests.
The two in a joint statement said the closure is to ensure that pupils and students are safe following intelligence gathered that their lives could be at risk.
But in a statement on Wednesday, Save the Children raised concern over the closure and instead called for the protection of the rights of children in the country amid ongoing protests.
Save the Children said such disruptions of learning could reverse the gains made in the education sector, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic that saw millions of children miss out on much-needed education.
“While we appreciate the measures the government is undertaking to ensure children’s safety, we are aware that an impasse between the parties involved could mean that more children across the country are denied their basic right to safety and education. These rights should be safeguarded at all costs,” Kenneth Sisimwo said.
Sisimwo is the Director of Programme Operations, Save the Children Kenya and Madagascar.
It has called on all the parties involved to take action to protect children’s inalienable right to safe access to quality education.
