Kenya’s flood and landslide-hit regions receive school books

Rose Achiego - Nairobi, Kenya

Speaking at the hand-over ceremony held at the publisher’s office in Nairobi, Archbishop Kivuva thanked Moran Publishers for their kind gesture. He noted that children in flood and landslide-hit regions are in greater danger of drowning, starvation, and disease. He added that because some of the schools have been submerged, children have no learning materials.

“Disasters directly cause disease and damage to education and health infrastructure, while indirectly lowering disease resistance by heightening poverty and malnutrition,” he said.

Books will help learners

Issuing the cheque and books, Moran (E.A.) Publishers Limited Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, David Muita, expressed hope that the donation will alleviate the pain of the victims affected by the devastating floods, landslides, and COVID-19.

“We also believe that the books will be of great use to both the students and teachers in the affected schools and will go a long way in uplifting educational standards in the community,” he added.

Flooding in Busia and Kisumu counties

Parts of Busia and Kisumu Counties are faced with disasters following the onset of seasonal rains and increased water levels in Lake Victoria that has led to the backflow of water thus causing flooding in Budalangi, Samia, Matayos, Nyando, and Ugenya Sub Counties.

According to reports, the heavy rainfall and floods have caused pit latrines and toilets to fill up and overflow, with some collapsing or sinking. Over 607 households have been affected and schools submerged. It is estimated that up to 11 schools are submerged in Budalangi alone.

Schools such as Mundika Primary School are being used to shelter Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

The situation is critical with the potential for an outbreak of Cholera. This is occurring at a time when the counties are fighting to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.