Disaster touches the classrooms: 71 KCSE candidates displaced
Heavy floods ravaged parts of Trans Nzoia, sweeping away homes and cutting off access to Soymining Secondary School where 71 KCSE candidates were preparing for their national exams. The floods struck at the peak of the exam season, forcing students from a village community to flee to makeshift shelters as rising waters overwhelmed their homes and swept away essential infrastructure.
Emergency response and shelter
Local authorities, together with relief agencies, have begun emergency relief operations. The affected students are now receiving shelter and basic supplies to weather the immediate crisis. Child protection officials and school administrators are coordinating to ensure that the candidates’ health, security, and study needs are prioritized while the community builds temporary housing and safe access routes to the school site for continued learning opportunities.
Impact on learning and future plans
With access to the school disrupted, exam preparation has been interrupted. Education officers warn that repeated closures or lengthy displacement could affect performance and confidence among the 71 KCSE candidates. In response, temporary learning spaces and makeshift study corners are being established within the relief camps to provide quiet environments for revision and tutoring, while officials explore ways to transport students back and forth when routes become passable.
Community resilience and ongoing support
The Trans Nzoia community has a history of resilience in the face of climate-induced challenges. Local leaders are calling for sustained support from national agencies to ensure long-term recovery. Food aid, clothing, and sanitation facilities are being distributed, alongside counseling services to help students cope with trauma associated with house destruction and displacement.
What comes next
Authorities are outlining a phased recovery plan that prioritizes restoring safe access to Soymining Secondary School, repairing damaged infrastructure, and ensuring the 71 KCSE candidates can pursue their studies with minimal disruption. This includes temporary examination arrangements where feasible, tutoring programs to bridge gaps, and plans to safeguard learning spaces against future floods as the rainy season continues.
Parents and guardians are urged to stay informed about displacement timelines and re-entry procedures. Community empowerment programs and partnerships with non-governmental organizations aim to bolster local capacity for disaster preparedness, ensuring that students don’t have to pay the price for climate-related disruptions in the years ahead.
