Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha has ordered all schools to be closed on Tuesday, August 2, to allow the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to conduct the August 9 General Election. 

In a statement issued on Monday, August 1, Magoha noted that all students from all basic education institutions would proceed on their half-term break effective Tuesday, August 2, and resume on Thursday, August 11. 

He affirmed that the communication superseded the prior communication where the Ministry had set Saturday, 6th August, as the stipulated date for closure. 

“As you are all aware, Kenya is scheduled to conduct its National Elections on Tuesday, August 9, 2022.”

“Therefore, following further consultations, I hereby convey the Government’s decision on the immediate closure of all Basic Education institutions with effect from Tuesday, August 2, 2022, until Wednesday, August 10, 2022, to ensure that preparations and conduct of the upcoming elections is carried out seamlessly.”

“Schools and Parents are advised to ensure that learners from all Basic Education institutions proceed on their half-term break effective Tuesday, August 2, 2022, and resume on Thursday, August 11, 2022,” Magoha stated.

While issuing the first statement on school closure, Magoha noted that the opening dates were subject to change in case of a repeat election. 

He affirmed that the KCPE and KCSE candidates would bear the brunt of the changes should a repeat election occurs. 

“We may have to sit down as stakeholders and see whether it will be fair to examine the children if they will have lost a considerable amount of time, I pray that that does not happen, these children have suffered enough,” he noted.

The Ministry has been in a race against time to normalise the academic calendar in January 2023.

The current academic year consists of four national exams; Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE),  Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), as well as Grade Three and Six exams under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). 

A recent Gazette notice by the IEBC revealed that over 250 institutions would be used as tallying centres in the upcoming August 9 poll. These consist of primary, secondary schools, universities and technical training institutes.