• According to Mwangangi, apart from the academic loss suffered by students due to prolonged closures, he believes they are more secure when attending school than when staying home. 

Kenyans have voiced their opposition to the proposal by the Deputy Governor of Machakos, Francis Mwangangi, regarding reopening schools.

Mwangangi has suggested that the dates for reopening schools should not be further delayed, emphasizing the importance of students resuming their education and the perceived safety of schools compared to home environments.

According to Mwangangi, apart from the academic loss suffered by students due to prolonged closures, he believes they are more secure when attending school than when staying home. He expressed concerns about children being exposed to uncontrolled environments and the potential risks of unsupervised activities outside their homes.

"I am urging the Ministry of Education to ensure that students report to school next week without failure," Mwangangi stated.

He acknowledged that some individuals may argue that this is not sufficient. Still, he emphasized the dangers of keeping young people at home, particularly when their parents struggle to provide for their basic needs.

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Mwangangi suggested that stakeholders should come together to explore alternative solutions instead of postponing the reopening dates.

The Deputy Governor's proposal has sparked a debate on social media, with Kenyans expressing their opinions on the matter.

The following are some of the comments of Kenyans on social media:

@kenyanthoughts

So what happens to the pupils and students who are day scholars?

@nrpk_kenya

If one can speak much at this time of floods, I continue to worry about where we are heading as a country. Not all school-going pupils and students are boarders. Day learners are at a high risk of being affected by floods.

@gKithii1

Our children should remain at home until the day every parent has no fear of sending them to school. Right now, you never know what might happen on the grounds up to where those schools are built.

The government postponed the scheduled schools reopening from April 29 to Monday, May 6, 2024.

In a statement on Monday, April 29, 2024, , Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu said they had received data that some schools have been adversely affected by the ongoing floods.

He said sending students and staff to the affected schools would be putting their lives at risk, hence the decision to postpone the reopening.