- Enock Okong’o urges education leaders to treat weather warnings as a call for early preparedness.
- He says schools should inspect infrastructure, secure learning materials and establish clear emergency response plans.
- Drawing lessons from Noah, Okong’o argues that preparedness can protect learners and sustain education during emergencies.
Weather forecast authorities in Kenya have predicted a strong El Niño occurrence, with warnings underscoring the need for preparedness to avoid the adverse damage that heavy rains can cause to homes, farms, roads and, especially, learning and government institutions. When we prepare early, we protect lives, property and the continuity of essential services.
El Niño is a climate pattern that occurs when the surface waters of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean become warmer than normal. That extra heat alters global wind patterns and can result in enhanced rainfall in East Africa, including Kenya. It can bring floods, landslides, strong winds and damage to infrastructure. La Niña is the opposite of El Niño. It happens when those same Pacific waters become cooler than normal, and it is often associated with drier conditions in parts of Kenya. In simple terms, El Niño can mean too much water, while La Niña can mean too little water. Both can disrupt daily life, but in very different ways.
Schools must prepare early
To avoid disruption in schools and government offices, early awareness and action are necessary. School heads, principals and county officials should audit buildings now. Roofs should be checked, drainage cleared, pit latrines reinforced and perimeter walls inspected. All learning materials, examination papers, computers and important government records should be moved to higher, dry and secure places and stored in waterproof containers.
Institutions should also map evacuation routes and identify nearby higher ground, then conduct at least one safety drill this term so learners and staff know exactly where to go when water rises.
Communication channels must also be active. Boards, BOMs and county teams should set up WhatsApp and SMS groups with parents, chiefs and emergency services to share updates quickly. Health preparedness is equally important. Schools and offices should stock first aid kits and water purification supplies because stagnant water after floods can increase health risks.
Where roads may be cut off, institutions should prepare take-home revision materials and use radio or WhatsApp groups to keep learning going. Community partnership will strengthen all these efforts. Churches, elders and local leaders are trusted voices and can help spread early warnings fast.
Lessons from Noah
The Bible gives us a clear lesson on heeding warnings through the story of Noah. God told Noah that floods were coming because people had refused to change. Noah spent years building the ark and warning the people, but they laughed and disobeyed. When the rains came, only those in the ark were saved, while the rest learned the hard way.
Noah’s story reminds us that early warning is a gift. The meteorological forecast we have today is our time to “build the ark.” If teachers, parents, learners and government officers listen and act now, we will not be caught unprepared.
Candidates preparing for KCSE, your safety and your books matter. Sit in class, revise, but also know your school’s safety plan. Teachers, your diligent work in shaping learners must now be matched by diligence in planning and protecting the learning environment. Leaders in government institutions, the decisions you make today will determine whether services continue smoothly or are interrupted when heavy rains occur.
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Let us not wait for floods to teach us. Let us learn from Noah, from the forecast and from each other. Prepare your school, secure your home and protect your records. Readiness will be the difference between disruption and continuity. Yes, we can get through it if we start now.
By Enock Okong’o
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