The Education Cabinet Secretary, Prof. George Magoha on Monday issued a circular suspending learning in all institutions of learning until further notice following a Presidential decree on the same last evening.
All day primary and secondary schools will be closed from today, while learners in boarding schools are expected home on Wednesday. Universities must also close by Friday.
According to the directives issued in the circular, Magoha encouraged parents who can go and pick their children to do so with school heads and principals being ordered to communicate the same to the parents and guardians.
“Schools should make arrangements to use school buses to ferry learners to the nearest designated drop off points which must be within proximate distance to be picked by their parents. All school buses belonging to day schools should also be mobilised for the purpose,” read the circular signed by the CS.
The CS further directed that schools should further liaise with NTSA licensed PSV vehicles to pick learners from schools after they have been cleaned, sanitised, and inspected by the head of institution.
He further stated that no vehicle should pick any passenger enroute and must drop the students at the nearest designated drop off points where they will be picked by parents.
“All field officers must work with National Government Administration Officers led by Regional Commissioners to ensure that no released learner is unattended to at the bus stages,” read the circular.
The circular urged heads of schools to ensure that learners are encouraged to practice hand hygiene and must not shake hand or hug ,as well as keep a record of those they interact with on their way home.
President Uhuru Kenyatta announced that entry to the country will be restricted to all except citizens and residents and directed shutting of schools as the number of confirmed cases rose to three.
The President said this would come into effect in the next 48 hours and would remain in place for 14 days.
Every foreigner who entered the country within the past 14 days has been ordered to self-quarantine.
Meanwhile, two students from Otondo Mixed Secondary School in Rachuonyo East Sub County are admitted at Matata hospital and Othoro health centre respectively with injuries after fighting over unknown reason today morning.
The two who are neighbours at home fought at first and were separated by other students but later on one student accosted the other with a knife stabbing him on the hand and head.
Later, a mob led by family members of the stabbed student armed with brunt objects stormed the school and beat up the other student leaving him bleeding from the ears, and with swollen eyes
The students were rushed to Othoro health centre by their respective families for medical attention and later the school principal Moses Odhiambo transferred the stabbed student to Matata hospital in Oyugis.
Area Sub County Education Director, Samuel Nyantika confirmed the incident, saying the reason for the students’ fight is not clear yet.
“I am following the matter and will give full report in due course,” he said
By Alice Gworo/Moseti Julius
