Kenyan President William Ruto postponed next week’s planned reopening of schools until further notice. Heavy rains and floods in the country continue. The president said Friday that “meteorological reports paint a dire picture” for coastal Kenya in the coming days. But some people say Ruto should have responded sooner and more strongly.
Kenya and other parts of East Africa have been overwhelmed by flooding. More than 150,000 displaced people live in camps across the country. More than 200 people have died.
Schools were first supposed to reopen on April 29. Then the reopen date was pushed to May 6. But Kenya’s education ministry postponed that once again. Some schools remain flooded and others have been damaged. Some displaced people are living in schools while the government prepares to relocate them to camps. Students must now wait for new reopening dates.
The government ordered people living near 178 dams and reservoirs that are full or nearly full to evacuate. If they don’t leave, authorities could forcefully remove them.
Water levels at two major hydroelectric dams have reached historic highs. The government warned those living downstream along the Tana River of the danger.
Last week, a boat capsized on the river, leaving seven people dead and 13 others missing. A passenger bus was also swept off a bridge along the same river last month.
The situation is hard and sad. We cling to the promise that God will one day make all things right. “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore.” (Revelation 21:4) And we can pray for God’s help and presence in these painful events.
Many people criticize the government’s poor response to the floods. The group Human Rights Watch on Thursday said the government “has a human rights obligation to . . . protect people when a disaster strikes.”
Kenya’s meteorology department sent an early warning before the rainy season, which begins in mid-March. But President Ruto did not form a response committee until April 24.
Flooding has left more than 155 people dead in neighboring Tanzania. Hundreds of people are affected in Burundi, Ethiopia, and Somalia as well. Cyclone Hidaya is predicted to bring heavy rain to coastal areas beginning May 5. And experts expect more rain in Kenya through May.
