Adhibohol Primary and Junior School in Wajir West is on the brink of collapse as shifting sand dunes continue to engulf the school compound, threatening to halt learning activities entirely.
The residents of Adhi-Bogol area are now urgently appealing for intervention from the National Government, Wajir County Government, NGOs and development partners to save the institution before it disappears under the sand.
The school, which serves as the main learning centre for children in Hadado Division, is facing a daily struggle as strong seasonal winds push mounds of sand into classrooms and open spaces.
Teachers and pupils are forced to clear sand from learning areas, only for the dunes to return overnight. The situation has left the school environment unsafe and unsuitable for effective learning.
Wajir County is part of Kenya’s arid and semi-arid regions, where environmental hazards such as drought, floods, and sand encroachment are common.
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However, local communities say government interventions have often been reactive and short-term, leaving vital institutions like Adhibohol Primary exposed to repeated environmental disasters. The current crisis is accelerated by prolonged drought, which has stripped the land of vegetation, making it easier for winds to blow sand into populated areas.
The threat of sand engulfing the school comes at a time when the region is already grappling with severe educational challenges. Many pupils are dropping out of school due to hunger, water shortages, and lack of learning materials. Residents fear that the loss of Adhibohol Primary School would further set back educational progress in the area and rob their children of the right to education.
Residents say that unless swift action is taken, the school will become unusable, forcing children to walk long distances to alternative schools, which could result in higher dropout rates. The community insists that safeguarding education in the region requires a coordinated response involving government agencies, humanitarian partners, and local stakeholders.
By Benedict Aoya
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