Scores of students from secondary schools affected by the Maai Mahiu flooding tragedy are yet to report to school.
The Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association said most of the missing students were those who were directly affected by the tragedy while others were still struggling trauma after losing relatives and friends.
The association announced that it had directed its members to relax reporting and leaving times for students in areas currently recording heavy rains.
Members of the association from Nakuru county visited the five affected schools in Maai Mahiu, Naivasha, and donated learning materials to students.
Nakuru Kessha chairman Kinyanjui Mwangi said the tragedy had mentally affected both students and parents who need psycho-social support.
He said scores of students were yet to report back to school two weeks after reopening having lost their relatives, friends and classmates.
“We held a debriefing for our staff and students following the tragedy and we are working with chiefs to trace the missing students while collecting data on those absent,” he said.
Addressing the press in Ngeya Secondary school in Maai Mahiu, Mwangi said that head teachers had reviewed some of their rules in line with the ongoing rains.
“We have asked our members to be lenient with students reporting late to school due to the rains and to release them early in the evening when it’s raining,” he said.
This was echoed by the Kessha chairman Naivasha subbranch Apollo Kiiru, who said that they were working with various agencies to counsel students and staff from affected schools.
While lauding the government for the support given following the tragedy, Kiiru said that they were working with the Ministry of Education to collect data on absent students.
“We have made sure that each school has a counselling department and we have relaxed our rules on reporting time as this rain has become unpredictable,” he said.
Naivasha MP Jane Kihara attributed the absence of the students in class to trauma, adding that her office was working closely with the schools to trace and support those missing.
She noted that some of the students died during the tragedy while others lost all their personal effects including learning materials and household goods.
“We are supporting over 100 students through school fees and learning materials as they restart their lives following this horror incident,” she said.
