- Kwale County has developed contingency plans to protect national exams from anticipated El Niño flooding.
- Authorities have identifiedflood-prone areas such as Ramisi, Kiwegu and Vukani, and have arranged for candidate relocation if access becomes impossible.
- The Kenya Red Cross and MWARP have launched countywide training to strengthen community preparedness and emergency response ahead of the rains.
Kwale has stepped up preparations to safeguard national examinations from possible disruption by El Niño rains expected from October, with authorities identifying flood-prone areas and putting emergency transport measures on standby.
Kwale County Director of Education Ahmed Abdi said contingency plans had been developed to ensure candidates access examination centres and materials even if flooding cuts off some areas. Speaking to journalists, Abdi said authorities had held consultations with key stakeholders and identified areas likely to face access challenges during the examination period. “We have put in place measures to ensure that examinations reach all centres, including those in areas that may experience flooding,” Abdi said.
Road repairs have also begun in vulnerable areas to improve access to examination centres and ensure candidates are not stranded by flooding. Some of the areas identified as vulnerable include Ramisi, Kiwegu, Vukani, Mbuguni, Kirewe and Miguneni, among others.
Abdi said candidates could be relocated to neighbouring schools if severe flooding makes it impossible to access examination centres safely. The government has also placed four-wheel-drive vehicles on standby to facilitate the movement of examination materials, while helicopters could be deployed if roads become impassable.
“We have made arrangements to ensure examination materials reach every centre regardless of the weather conditions. Where roads become impassable, we will deploy alternative means, including helicopters, to ensure no candidate is disadvantaged,” Abdi said.
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Meanwhile, the Kenya Red Cross, in partnership with Muslims Women Advancement of Rights and Protection (MWARP), has launched countywide training to equip residents with early-warning, preparedness and emergency-response skills ahead of the anticipated rains. The programme includes mapping learning institutions and households likely to be affected by flooding to support early intervention and response.
MWARP coordinator Mwalimu Ali said the initiative brings together county officials, local leaders, education representatives and community members to strengthen preparedness in flood-prone areas. He said residents were being trained on measures to take before and during emergencies to minimise the impact of flooding and prevent avoidable loss of lives and property. “We have brought this training to sensitise residents before disaster strikes and ensure they know what to do when an emergency occurs,” Ali said.
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He added that the programme would also strengthen cooperation between communities and disaster-response agencies, ensuring early warnings and other critical information reach residents in time.
By Shaban Omar
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