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Gen Z protest has disrupted scheduled teacher ICT trainings various centres across Kiambu and Nairobi counties
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Reports from several training venues indicate that attendance remained extremely low by 9:20 a.m., with many Junior School (JS) teachers unable to reach the designated centres due to heightened security operations and roadblocks mounted by law enforcement officers.
Teacher training programmes scheduled to take place on Thursday morning in various centres across Kiambu and Nairobi counties and under the Kenya Digital Education and Assessment Programme (KDEAP) faced major disruptions as the ongoing Gen Z protests crippled transport and movement.
Reports from several training venues indicate that attendance remained extremely low by 9:20 a.m., with many Junior School (JS) teachers unable to reach the designated centres due to heightened security operations and roadblocks mounted by law enforcement officers.
According to teachers travelling to the venues, security personnel were conducting thorough vetting of commuters along major roads in an effort to identify individuals suspected of participating in the nationwide demonstrations. The intensified checks significantly slowed movement, leaving many teachers stranded on roads for hours.
Public transport was also severely affected, with matatu operations disrupted in several areas as transport operators avoided routes perceived to be vulnerable to protest-related disturbances.
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The transport challenges further compounded difficulties for teachers expected to attend the ICT and digital learning trainings.
At some venues, the few participants who managed to arrive early were left waiting in uncertainty as training sessions failed to commence on schedule.
Organisers reportedly faced difficulties determining whether enough participants would eventually arrive to proceed with the planned programmes.
The ICT trainings form part of the government’s efforts to equip teachers with digital skills and prepare them for the implementation of technology-based learning initiatives in schools.
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However, the disruptions caused by the protests have cast doubt on the smooth rollout of the sessions.
Education stakeholders have called for clear communication from organisers regarding possible rescheduling or adjustments to the training timetable should the disruptions persist throughout the day.
As demonstrations continue in different parts of the country, concerns remain over the impact of the unrest on essential public services, including education-related programmes that require physical attendance.
By Kithinji Njeru
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