Over 2,000 Ngeya Primary students absent due to Mai Mahiu tragedy trauma

Over 2,000 students from Ngeya Primary School, one of the institutions hardest hit by the Mai Mahiu tragedy, have yet to return to school.

Five days after schools reopened following a two-week delay, many students remain absent, with parents and teachers attributing their absence to the trauma caused by the disaster.

A committee appointed to address the needs of families affected by the tragedy has started the process of purchasing school uniforms and books for the students.

To date, 62 bodies have been recovered following the incident, over 30 people are missing, and nearly 100 families are still living in two camps around Mai Mahiu town.

Josephat Nduru, the head teacher of Ngeya Primary School, explained that most absent students hail from the villages affected by the Mai Mahiu floods two weeks ago.

The tragedy caused them to lose their belongings, including school uniforms, books, and other essential items, preventing them from attending classes.

“We have over 3,000 students in this school, but over 2,000 who were affected by the dam tragedy are yet to report back as they are not mentally strong,” Nduru said.

He noted that the students are visibly traumatized, despite ongoing engagement from counselors working with the students and their parents.

Nduru called on the government to provide additional counsellors and mentors to support the teachers, who have formed a mental wellness team to address the students’ psychological needs.

Ann Wanjiru, a parent, highlighted the severe mental impact on minors, many of whom are struggling with sleep due to the trauma.

She echoed the teachers’ call for more counselling support to help the students overcome the traumatic events.

“Many of the students are not in a position to report back to class, and we are happy that teachers understand this. The only way forward is counselling,” she said.

On his part, the Naivasha Deputy County Commissioner Mutua Kisilu noted that local schools had been cleared of humanitarian activities related to the tragedy and that learning had resumed smoothly.

He appealed to well-wishers to assist flood victims in rebuilding their homes and moving away from the camps where they had been residing for over two weeks.