Roads and Transport cabinet secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has called on road users including motorists to exercise caution so as to ensure the safety of children as schools reopen on Monday, April 29.
In a statement on Sunday, April 28, the CS noted that heavy rains currently experienced in various parts of the country have created unsafe road conditions because of flooding.
As such, he urged all road users not to underestimate the dangers of rain and flooding, noting that even shallow pools can hide deep potholes or deep currents.
“As schools reopen this week, I urge all road users to exercise caution to ensure the safety of our children and other road users,” CS Murkomen noted.
“This new term coincides with heavy rains, creating hazardous road conditions due to flooding and damaged infrastructure. Road users should not underestimate the dangers of rain and flooding, as even shallow pools can hide deep potholes or deep currents.”
CS Murkomen Issues Tips to Maintain Children’s Safety
To minimize risks, the CS advised drivers to maintain a safe distance, slow down and exercise patience in areas with heavy rain or flooding.
In addition, Murkomen called on road users to avoid risky behaviors such as speeding or overloading.
He further asked citizens to assist maintain road safety by reporting reckless driving even as National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) crackdown continues on the Kenyan roads.
Also Read: JKIA Changes Access Points After Flooding Incident
“Even as the Government, through the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and the Police, intensify enforcement of traffic rules, I encourage road users to take personal responsibility by avoiding risky behaviors such as speeding or overloading and helping to report reckless driving,” stated the CS.
The Roads and Transport CS said drivers who endanger the lives of other road users by ignoring traffic regulations or crossing dangerous waters will be held accountable for their actions.
Likewise, the CS urged parents to take responsibility of ensuring their children get to school safely.
He advised on using safe routes as well as coordination with school administrations to set up safe pick-up and drop off points.
“Parents also play a key role in ensuring their children’s safety. They should choose safe routes and coordinate with school administrators to set up safe pick-up and drop-off points,” Murkomen stated.
“They should also release children on their trips back to school early.”
Also Read: Murkomen Gives Way Forward on Nairobi – Nakuru Highway Floods
School Reopening for Second Term
The directives by CS Murkomen comes a day after deputy president Rigathi Gachagua said schools will reopen for the second term despite the ongoing heavy rainfall and floods.
Speaking on Friday, April 26, DP Gachagua explained that all institutions affected by floods will remain closed for an additional number of days.
Furthermore, he nopted that the Ministry of Education was working with the county governments to ensure the safety of the students as they go back to school.
“The schools will re-open as scheduled and planned. But where there are cases of affected people, the county governments, the national government and the directors of education in those counties with the recommendation of the education PS Belio Kipsang, we can always extend for a few days until they settle down,” noted Gachagua.
The Ministry of Education on April 25 had also directed all Regional Directors of Education across the country to assess the rainfall situation in their areas ahead of schools reopening.
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