NAIROBI, 19 July 2023 – Save the children is deeply concerned about children’s rights to education, safety and wellbeing as a result of the ongoing protests across the country.

The Ministries of Education and that of Interior and National Administration on Tuesday (18th July, 2023) announced the closure of all day primary and secondary schools in Nairobi, Kisumu and Mombasa, temporarily halting education for thousands of children. Despite the promise to reopen the schools on Thursday (20th July, 2023) upon assessment of the security situation, Save the Children said such disruptions of learning could reverse the gains made in the education sector, especially after the Covid- 19 pandemic that saw millions of children missing out on the much needed education.

“While we appreciate the measures the government is undertaking to ensure children’s safety, we are aware that an impasse between the parties involved could mean that more children across the country are denied their basic right to safety and education. These rights should be safeguarded at all costs,” said Kenneth Sisimwo, Director of Programme Operations, Save the Children Kenya and Madagascar.

Save the Children is calling upon all the parties involved to take action to protect children’s inalienable right to safe access to a quality education.

Save the Children has been providing support to children in Kenya through our development and humanitarian programmes since 1950. We work with communities, local partners, and the government to design and deliver programmes to meet the needs of the most deprived children. We also advocate for greater investment of public and private resources for children.

We operate programmes in health and nutrition; food security and livelihoods; child protection; child rights governance; education; humanitarian response and adolescent rights.