Nairobi Parent Says She Wasn't Prepared For Schools Reopening So Soon: "Fees Tulishakula"

• When President William Ruto announced that school opening day was postponed indefinitely, many parents spent the fees
• The announcement that the new opening date is May 13 has thrown them into confusion
• One of them is Nairobi mother, Elsy Raphael, who lamented that she was now forced to find an alternative source of fees within hours

Elsy Raphael, a parent in Nairobi, has voiced her concerns over the sudden reopening of schools.

In a candid interview with TUKO.co.ke, she shared her apprehensions about the challenges facing many parents like herself.

Some schools still flooded

The doting mother cited unpreparedness during heavy rains and financial constraints.

She explained that her biggest wish is that the rains won't prolong excessively.

"I don't know if the government has considered the flooded areas and schools," Elsy expressed, highlighting the impact of the weather conditions on already struggling families.

Elsy emphasized the need to adhere to the school calendar but admitted that she had not prepared for the reopening.

Life must continue

She reiterated that being a Kenyan, she is accustomed to finding alternative plans because life must continue.

"For some of us, our working places flooded and we don't know where to start, but we always need to have a plan B," Elsy shared.

She added that the first thing that came to her mind when the reopening day was announced was school fees.

Elsy echoed many families' financial strain in meeting their children's educational expenses.

Despite the difficulties, she remains determined to navigate these challenges, exemplifying her unwavering spirit of resilience.

Schools reopen on May 13

Her sentiments come hours after the Ministry of Education announced that schools would reopen on May 13 for the second term.

The announcement ended a week of uncertainty following President William Ruto's directive that opening day was suspended indefinitely.

Meanwhile, parents have started preparing to ensure their children are ready for the new term, which had been delayed due to flooding in Kenya.

What you need to know:

• The initial opening day for school was May 6, but the president asked the ministry to postpone it indefinitely until the flooding situation was analyzed.
• As of May 7, government data indicated that the death toll due to flooding had risen to 238 after 10 more bodies were recovered on Sunday, May 5.
• The president ordered the military to provide humanitarian services in a bid to boost the Kenya Red Cross's ability to rescue citizens affected by floods.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke