NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 23 – Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha says schools in eight electoral areas where by-elections are slated to be held on Monday will remain closed for a day.
Magoha said the decision has been taken in order to pave way for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to use the facilities as polling centres.
“The children can stay at home on Monday 29, and report to school on Tuesday 30. For those mixed schools which are both Boarding and day, the Boarding scholars should remain in school and remain away from the polling areas,” he said.
The Education CS however asked the IEBC to relocate the tallying centres to tertiary institutions in the regions so that students taking their national examinations this year don’t have their studies disrupted.
CS Magoha also assured parents that their children would be safe during the period.
“We really must now support our children as we work through a very tight schedule. May I very kindly urge the teachers in the schools to be available, especially those in boarding schools, where the children may be required to be regimented a little more than usual so that they are assisted to galvanize the day,” he stated.
The IEBC is slated to hold gubernatorial polls in Kakamega and Mombasa counties.
Parliamentary polls will be held in Rongai, Kitui Rural, Pokot South, and Kacheliba.
Residents in Nyaki West in Meru County and Wanjenga Ward in Kiambu County will also be going to the polls to choose their Members of the County Assembly.
