By Peter Ochieng
Students who were scheduled to travel aboard Madaraka Express before the opening date for the second term was pushed forward, have nothing to worry.
The government of Kenya, through education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ezekiel Machogu on Sunday night announced changes to school opening dates.
Machogu said the opening date had been pushed forward by a week, from Monday, April 29th to Monday, May 06, 2024, due to the current state of flooding in most parts of the country.
The floods have destroyed infrastructure in over 100 schools, with other basic learning institutions being used as temporary camps for Kenyans whose homes have been swept away, or marooned by floods.
“Reports received at the ministry of education, corroborated with data from other relevant government agencies, show that a number of schools in various regions of the country have been adversely affected by the rains,” the CS said in the Sunday night statement.
“The devastating effects of the rains in some of the schools is so severe that it will be imprudent to risk the lives of learners and staff before water-tight measures are put in place to ensure adequate safety of all affected school communities,” he added.
The Kenya Railways (KR) now says learners who were scheduled to travel back to school via Madaraka Express have nothing to worry as they will be catered for when the time to go back to school comes.
A statement by management announced Madaraka Express ticket extension for students.
“We wish to notify members of the public that owing to the postponement of school opening dates for all primary and secondary schools by the ministry of education, all student tickets purchased for travel between today, Monday, April 29th and Friday, 3rd May 2024 aboard the Madaraka Express will remain open for use from Monday, 6th May to Friday, May 10th, 2024.”
The extension strictly applies to students.