- Education CS Julius Ogamba has convened agencies to prepare schools for expected El Niño rains.
- The October–December rains are forecast to bring prolonged wet spells and heavy downpours nationwide.
- National assessments and KCSE examinations will run during the same high-risk rainy season.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba has convened a multi-agency meeting to assess the education sector’s preparedness for expected El Niño rains during the October–November–December 2026 season.
Ogamba chaired the meeting on Wednesday morning, bringing together Ministry of Education field officers and officials from the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), the Kenya Meteorological Service Authority and the National Disaster Management Unit.
The meeting reviewed preparedness and response measures aimed at protecting learners, teachers and other education personnel as the country approaches a rainy season expected to coincide with national examinations and assessments.
According to the Ministry, discussions focused on strengthening coordination among agencies to safeguard school infrastructure, minimise interruptions to learning and ensure examinations proceed smoothly despite possible weather-related disruptions.
“The meeting focused on strengthening coordination and preparedness to ensure the safety of learners, teachers and education personnel, safeguard learning infrastructure, and minimise disruptions to the school calendar and the administration of examinations during the rainy season,” the Ministry said in information shared by Ogamba.
Enhanced rains expected
The preparations follow forecasts indicating that much of Kenya could experience above-average rainfall during the October–November–December 2026 short-rains season.
The Kenya Meteorological Service Authority has projected above-average rainfall over most parts of the country, accompanied by generally fair to good rainfall distribution, prolonged wet spells and episodes of heavy rainfall.
The enhanced rainfall has been linked to evolving El Niño–Southern Oscillation conditions and the Indian Ocean Dipole.
Meteorological authorities have warned that while the rains could improve water availability, pasture and agricultural production, intense rainfall could trigger flash floods, waterlogging, landslides and damage to infrastructure.
Transport could also be affected in vulnerable areas, posing a particular concern for the education sector because examination materials, candidates and examination officials must reach centres on schedule.
The regional climate outlook issued by the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) also indicates an increased likelihood of wetter-than-normal conditions across parts of the Greater Horn of Africa during the October–December season.
ICPAC projects a particularly high probability of enhanced rainfall over northeastern Kenya, while parts of central Kenya and the Lake Victoria Basin could receive significant seasonal rainfall totals.
The expected rains will coincide with one of the busiest periods in Kenya’s education calendar, when millions of learners will be sitting national examinations and assessments.
KNEC has scheduled rehearsals for the 2026 Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) for October 23, with the assessment running from October 26 to October 28.
The Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) is also scheduled to begin on October 26 following rehearsals on October 23.
The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination programme will also be underway during the rainy period, beginning with oral and practical examinations in October before the main written papers in November. KNEC has published the official 2026 KCSE, KJSEA and KPSEA timetables on its examination portal.
The convergence of heavy rainfall and national examinations means authorities will have to plan for possible flooding of roads, damaged bridges, inaccessible examination centres and interruptions to electricity and communications.
Schools located in flood-prone areas, along rivers and in regions susceptible to landslides are expected to require closer monitoring as weather conditions develop.
Previous heavy-rain seasons have forced education authorities to adjust transport arrangements in difficult-to-reach areas, with boats, helicopters and other alternative means considered where ordinary road transport becomes impossible.
Wednesday’s meeting is therefore expected to inform coordination between education officials, examination authorities, meteorological officers and disaster-response agencies at national and county levels.
The Kenya Meteorological Service Authority has urged institutions and communities to continue following updated forecasts because rainfall onset, intensity and distribution will vary between regions.
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The agency says rains could begin in some areas as early as September, while many parts of the country are expected to experience onset between the second and fourth weeks of October.
By Joseph Mambili
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