This archive report was first published on 25 August 2020.
Naivasha, Nakuru County - Thirteen-year-old Jake Gitari from Kinungi Bonanza has been studying at home since schools were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, his learning has been severely disrupted by frequent power outages caused by Kenya Power's unreliability.
As a Class Eight pupil at Highpeak Junior Academy, Jake is set to sit his national exams to join secondary school when schools reopen. To keep up with his studies, Jake's teachers have been using online platforms like Zoom and WhatsApp to conduct classes and send homework.
However, the power outages have made it difficult for Jake and his fellow pupils to study. 'We are often in the middle of a class and then the power goes off,' Jake said. 'It's been extremely difficult for us to study because there are no lights to power the computer to see or at night when I want to do my homework.'
The power outages have not only affected Jake's studies but also his daily life. He is unable to watch television to relax after studying, and his parents are unable to store food in the fridge due to the frequent power cuts.
According to Jake, the power outages have been ongoing since July, and his parents have been calling Kenya Power day in and day out to report the issue, but they have not received any response.
As a result, Jake's classes have been put on hold, and he is left behind with no additional notes from his teachers. He is worried that the power outages will affect his performance in the national exams.
Published on August 25, 2020, at 6:43 PM EAT.
