The schools in Kenya reported back for 2015 second trimester on May 5. About 97% of the students of Friends of Father Ntaiyia Jubilee School had reported back to school in the first four days.
Most parents and friends anticipated the return of the students in Narok Schools with a lot of anxiety and fear. I had requested our parishioners here in Ontario to join me in praying for the people of Narok town where the school is and for the families and our students. This is because five days before children returned to school from April Holidays, flash floods struck Narok town with such a force sweeping away residents, domestic animals and cars. A one-story building in the town also collapsed with an unknown number of people feared trapped inside and a witness said the floods swept away more than ten vehicles. Damage assessments are still going on and exact figures are unlikely to be available for some time. Narok has a history of flash floods but in recent years they have increased and it is being noted that the main cause is loss of forest cover in the outlaying water catchments, coupled with the closing up of waterways in the town due to some structures done on the water ways. I have communicated with teachers and other school staff and so far there is no report to indicate that any of our school families were affected by the floods in any way.
STUDENTS AND STAFF: I am informed that the students and staff reported back to school well. Even though there were reports of heavy rains in some parts of the county, travelling was possible back to school. Children are always brought back by parents and for that reason I feel it is safe for the children. It could however have been catastrophic if the said flood found parents and children shopping in the town.
Generally the students were said to have had restful time at home although this differs with families and places. There has been no rain in most parts of Kenya prior to start of school holidays which means the children were going to homes that had experienced dry season, maybe not much water and food. I often become aware quickly when people are experiencing hard times because within the first few days of the children’s returning, school fee payments are delayed and goes slower than expected which may indicate that parents do not have their normal cash flow.
It is very obvious this trimester because parents have paid less than expected in the first week and this is attributed to prolonged drought that was reported in areas where children come from. This means the crop farmers did not have produce to sell and those who keep animals, their animals did not have much to graze on and so were not healthy to fetch good auction. Such a situation points out that things and stable food will be expensive since there will not be much of it in the open market. When people have little to bring to the market, they probably need what they harvest for sustaining themselves at home.
SECURITY: Many friends and well-wishers of Jubilee School have asked me questions regarding the safety of the School’s Community with regards to the reports of Al-Shabaab attacks that are being reported in some parts of Kenya. Distance wise Friends of Father Ntaiyia Jubilee School is far from troubled areas and we do not expect our area to have any attentions that may make it a target of Al-Shabaab; however we cannot rule out that family members and friends of our students and staff could be caught up in troubled areas. We also have our past students who have gone to High Schools in various parts of the Country.
Some schools in some parts of Kenya live in constant fear of a terrorist attack because of what may be going on in their areas.
SCHOOL WEBSITE: As I had mentioned in the February 2015 News that I was working on a new website for the school bearing the official registration name of the school that is Father Ntaiyia Jubilee School, I wish to say that it is now in place. I am working on the pictures to be posted according to three headings: Activities, Development and School life as shown in the Photo Albums. Please visit the website and give me any feedback you may have that can improve it. https://mhl.hxi.mybluehost.me/website_e30e867a/.