Kenyan Schools to Reopen on May 10th as Earlier Scheduled, CS Magoha Says

Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha insists that schools will reopen on May 10th as planned.

There have been concerns that the high rate of COVID-19 infection in the country could delay the reopening of learning institutions.

But speaking on Monday, CS Magoha said current data indicate that there is a decline in COVID-19 cases across the country and hopes the curve will have flattened by the time the third term begins next month.

“I’m hoping since it looks like the pandemic is going to flatten, there is no need for me to summon stakeholders as the timetable is likely to remain the same for the rest of the year,” said Magoha.

At the same time, Magoha announced that the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination results will be released within the next two weeks to allow for timely Form One selection.

Last month, President Kenyatta ordered a cessation of movement into and out the one zoned area comprising the counties of Nairobi, Kiambu, Nakuru, Kajiado, and Machakos to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The restriction followed a spike in COVID-19 infections in the country, with the positivity rate standing at 22 percent at the time compared with 2% in January.

The latest data place the positivity rate at 11.8 percent with the country’s cumulative number of infections totaling 145,670.