Kenyans will next Tuesday, August 9, 2022, be going to the polls to elect new leaders.
It has been a tradition for a long time that schools and other learning institutions are used as polling stations, meaning during election time, learners are usually at home for a long holiday.
Before the promulgation of the 2010 constitution, Kenyan General Elections were held in December, but since then, the polls are held on the second Tuesday of the month of August after every five years.
Schools had been expected to go for a mid-term later this week – beginning Thursday and Friday – but that was before the latest directive from the Ministry of Education.
Education CS at a past event.In a statement issued on Monday, August 1, 2022, the Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha directed all schools to be closed immediately, on Tuesday, August 2, 2022.
“As you are aware, Kenya is scheduled to conduct its National Elections on Tuesday, 9th August 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, 2nd August 2022, to ensure that preparations and conduct of the upcoming general elections is carried out seamlessly,” CS Magoha said in the statement.
“Schools and parents are advised to ensure that learners from all basic education institutions proceed on their final half term effective Tuesday, August 2, and resume Thursday, August 11, 2022,” he added.
This means the schools will remain closed for at least 9 days – this is if there will be no run-off in the presidential contest.
Number of schools being used as polling stations
In the event of a run-off – that is if none of the presidential candidates gets a 50+1 per cent on August 9, the re-opening date is subject to change.
Earlier, the Independents Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) had indicated that at least 250 learning institutions will be utilized as polling stations and tallying centres during the general election.
There are over 46,000 polling stations for the Tuesday poll, 290 constituency tallying centres, 47 county tallying centres and one national tallying centre.
IEBC in a gazette notice notes that 17 institutions of higher education will be used as county tallying centres while 230 schools in select constituencies will be used as constituency tallying centres.
