The Kenya Railways Corporation on Monday, April 29, announced that students who had purchased Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) tickets and affected by the abrupt change in the schools' opening date will be allowed to use their tickets from Monday May 6 to Friday, May 10.
In a statement, the corporation reiterated that the directive would only apply for students and their accompanying guardian.
“We wish to notify members of the public that owing to the postponement of school opening dates for all primary and secondary schools by the Ministry of Education, all student tickets purchased for travel between today, Monday, April 29th and Friday, May 3rd 2024 aboard the Madaraka Express will remain open for use from Monday, May 6th to Friday, May 10th 2024," read the statement.
On Monday, the Ministry of Education postponed the opening of schools by a week, slating the new opening day to May 6 following the floods that had ravaged the country.
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu explained that the ministry would continue to issue updates and work towards mitigating the effects in schools.
"In the meantime, the Ministry will work with relevant agencies and stakeholders to put in place measures to mitigate the adverse effects of the rains and provide regular updates on all developments as pertain to the education sector," Machogu noted
The schools were on holiday after the completion of the first term with students previously set to report for the second term on Monday, April 29.
However, the directive has come under heat from Kenyans across the country stating that the government should have issued the directive early enough.
Parents and guardians lamented the timing of the directive stating that while it was aimed at maintaining the safety of students, it had caused inconveniences to many.
In previous statements, the government had reiterated that the school reopening date was unchanged.
On Sunday, Transport Cabinet Secretary, Kipchumba Murkomen urged motorists to give priority to students and for them to exercise caution while ferrying students.
Meanwhile, on Monday, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja offered to cater for transport fees for students stranded in the city.
The Governor instructed his team to man bus stops in the City and reimburse the students who were en route to schools to enable them return home safely.
