This archive report was first published on 17 July 2020.
On July 17, 2020, the Kenyan government announced that universities would only be allowed to reopen in September after meeting COVID-19 prevention measures set by the Ministries of Education, Health, and Interior.
University Education and Research Principal Secretary Simon Nabukwesi stated that the Education Ministry would provide a checklist to ascertain whether universities had complied with the guidelines before granting clearance for reopening.
Nabukwesi emphasized the importance of student and staff safety, urging universities to adhere strictly to COVID-19 directives before seeking clearance.
He also encouraged institutions to adopt online studies to ensure students did not miss out on scheduled classes and to prepare re-admission schedules indicating the number of students who could be accommodated after complying with the Ministry's checklist.
Additionally, Nabukwesi called on universities to ensure they had adequate handwashing points, automatic sanitizer dispensers, gun thermometers, isolation facilities, protective gear, and face masks available to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Meanwhile, the University of Nairobi was considering postponing its reopening after confirming COVID-19 cases.
Primary and secondary schools remained closed until January 2021 due to fears of COVID-19 infections, with Education Cabinet Secretary Professor George Magoha stating that it would not be practical or safe to reopen schools during the peak period of virus infections.
Magoha announced that the current academic year was lost, and learners would be required to repeat their classes when schools reopened next year.
