Floods disrupt learning in Lamu

The flooded Kiunga Primary School in Lamu County. Heavy rains have disrupted learning in some schools in the county. PHOTO | KALUME KAZUNGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • A toilet and underground water tank collapsed at Kiunga Primary School.
  • He also called on the Lamu County government to intervene to avoid outbreak of water borne diseases.

Learning in at least seven public primary schools in Lamu West and East sub-counties has been disrupted by floods following heavy rains in the coastal region.

The schools, including Pangani, Kakathe, Boramoyo, Maisha Masha, Maleli and Katsaka Kairu in Lamu West and Kiunga in Lamu East, are inaccessible because of high water levels.

Lamu West Education Officer Josphat Ngumi said the number of pupils attending schools has dropped since the the rains started.

Mr Ngumi said apart from flooding, some schools have poor infrastructure that undermines learning when it rains.

He said the most affected schools are Pangani, Kakathe and Boramoyo.

“Most classes in these schools are made of mud and are dilapidated and we fear some may collapse if the rains persist,” he said.

A toilet and an underground water tank collapsed at Kiunga Primary School in Lamu East following the heavy rains.

OUTBREAK

Lamu East Education Officer David Kambi called on the government to intervene as the pupils do not have clean drinking water and toilets.

He also called on the Lamu County government to intervene so as to avoid an outbreak of waterborne diseases.

At Kakathe Primary School, parents and teachers said they need urgent intervention as pupils don’t have desks and some are learning under trees.

“All this can’t happen during this season of heavy rains. We need urgent assistance to build better classrooms,” said parent Josphine Kaingu.

Alex Kenya, the Maleli Primary School headteacher, said teachers had been forced to send pupils home early as classes flood when it rains.

Heavy rains in Lamu East have caused floods that have displaced at least 500 residents.

More than 70 houses in Kiunga, Bonini and Marerini villages have been swept away.

The Lamu County government has set aside Sh6 million to address flooding.