Two classrooms at Chegecha School in Tilito village, Kericho County, have been destroyed by heavy rains and strong winds, raising concerns over the safety and learning arrangements of pupils when schools resume.
The classrooms, located in Chepseon Ward, Kipkelion East Constituency, were brought down on Monday, November 9, 2026, at around 6pm following hours of heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds.
The affected structures, which were reportedly constructed through contributions from parents, were completely destroyed, with the school’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) facility also among the facilities affected.
The incident has left residents appealing to local leaders to intervene and help restore the damaged classrooms before learners return to school.
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Residents question delayed repairs
Ruben Lang’at, a resident, said the storm swept away the classrooms, including the ICT facility, leaving the school with damaged infrastructure.
He also questioned why an earlier promise by a local leader to repair the facility had not been fulfilled.
“Jana ilinyesha mvua kubwa, yenye ilikuwa na upepo, ikang’oa madarasa yetu ya ICT. Kwa saa hii sasa iko chini,” Lang’at said.
He appealed to the area leadership to explain the delay in repairing the facility, recalling that a commitment had previously been made to address the problem.
“Tunaomba mheshimiwa, uko wapi tangu siku ile ulisema utakuja? Ulisema utakuja kutengeneza hii ICT, lakini haijaonekana,” he added.
Village manager Bernard Siele also confirmed that strong winds accompanying the downpour had brought down the classrooms, rendering the structures unusable.
Poor roads compound residents’ concerns
Beyond the destruction of school infrastructure, residents also raised concerns over the poor condition of roads in the area, saying the situation has affected businesses and movement.
Emanuel Cheruiyot, a local milk trader, said he encounters difficulties transporting milk from Salito to town because of the state of the roads.
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“Barabara pekee yake ni mbaya. Hata haipitiki. Mimi ni mfanyibiashara wa maziwa, nasupply maziwa kutoka huku Salito nikipeleka town. Sasa shida ni barabara,” he said.
Cheruiyot appealed to local leaders to address the situation, particularly the damaged classrooms, before pupils resume learning.
“Naomba muangalie ili tuone tusimamishe darasa kabla muda ujao wanafunzi hawajaingia,” he added.
Another resident, Bernard Korir, echoed the appeal, urging leaders to intervene and ensure the affected learning facilities are restored before learners return.
“Kiongozi wetu, tunaomba mtusaidie muangalie ili tuone tusimamishe hiyo darasa kabla muda ujao wanafunzi hawajaingia,” Korir said.
Heavy rains raise concerns over infrastructure
The destruction comes amid the October-November-December (OND) rainy season, with the Kenya Meteorological Department forecasting above-average rainfall in 43 counties.
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The continued heavy rains have raised concerns about the vulnerability of schools, roads and other infrastructure, particularly in communities where public facilities depend on limited local resources.
The damage at Chegecha School has renewed calls for urgent intervention to ensure pupils have safe and adequate learning facilities when they return to class.
