The Ministry of Education has announced that boarding schools can release their students for the half term break starting Monday, June 24. Originally, the break was set to begin on Wednesday, June 26.

In a memo addressed to school principals, the Ministry explained that the early departure is intended to give students and parents ample time to arrange travel plans in light of the Finance Bill protests planned for Tuesday.

Some school principals have already informed parents to pick up their children starting today. Any students not picked up today will have to wait until Wednesday.

Day school students will commence their half term break after the academic day ends today.

Protests against the Finance Bill 2024 have been ongoing since last Tuesday, with a significant number of participants being Gen Zs. Last Thursday, these protests intensified and spread across the country, affecting cities and towns such as Eldoret, Nanyuki, and Nyeri.

At the end of May, the Ministry had revised the half term dates for the second term to run from June 26 to June 30 due to disruptions caused by flooding. Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang mentioned in a letter that the changes were necessary due to the delayed school opening caused by the floods.

"Following the disruption of the opening dates, it has been decided that the half-term dates for term two 2024 be revised," read the memo in part. "The change may require adjustments on planned activities and schedules."

Prior to the flooding, the school calendar had set the half-term break for June 20 to June 23, with the reopening date initially scheduled for Monday, April 29, before it was postponed by Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu.