Education Ministry Orders Closure of Closure of Emurua Dikirr Primary Schools Ahead of UDA Nominations

Education Ministry Orders Closure of Emurua Dikirr Primary Schools Ahead of UDA Nominations

Primary schools in Emurua Dikirr Constituency will temporarily close to allow the use of classrooms as polling stations during upcoming party nominations by the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), the Ministry of Education has confirmed.

Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang Bitok said the ministry approved the request after receiving a formal communication from the ruling party seeking access to school facilities for the exercise scheduled for March 27.

“I want to confirm that on the 15th of this month, I received a letter from the UDA party requesting that primary schools in Emurua Dikirr constituency be used as polling stations for the purposes of the UDA primaries,” Bitok said. “We have allowed them to use these schools as polling stations, and we have given very firm instructions to the aspirants that we are not going to entertain any destruction or interference of properties of schools.”

Assurance of Political Neutrality

The education official emphasised that the government’s decision does not signify political alignment, noting that schools are public facilities that may be made available to all parties under similar circumstances.

He reiterated that the ministry would extend equal access to any political organisation seeking to use public schools for lawful electoral activities.

Education stakeholders say the move reflects a long-standing practice in Kenya, where learning institutions are routinely used as polling centres during national elections due to their accessibility and infrastructure.

Rescheduled Nominations

The UDA National Elections Board earlier announced that nominations in Emurua Dikirr had been moved from Saturday, March 28, to Friday, March 27, as part of adjustments affecting several regions.

Other areas included in the revised schedule are Porro Ward in Samburu West Constituency and Endo Ward in Marakwet East Constituency, where voting will also take place on the same day.

Party officials said polling stations will operate between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., allowing registered members to select candidates ahead of the upcoming by-elections.

Applications for party nominations closed on March 20.

By-Elections Set for May

According to a special gazette notice issued by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), by-elections in the affected areas are scheduled for May 14, 2026.

Political parties intending to field candidates must submit their nominees to the commission by March 25, while independent aspirants are required to submit both their names and proposed symbols by the same deadline.

The commission also reminded independent candidates that they must not have been members of any political party for at least three months prior to the election date.

Rules for Public Officers and Campaign Period

IEBC further directed that any public officer wishing to contest must resign from their position within seven days of the declaration of the vacancy.

Candidate nominations by the commission will take place on April 15 and 16, after which the official campaign period will commence.

Campaign activities will be permitted from April 15 until May 11, between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., in accordance with electoral regulations designed to maintain order and fairness.

Concerns Over Disruption to Learning

While authorities have not specified the duration of the school closures, parents and education advocates have expressed concern over interruptions to academic schedules, particularly in public primary schools that already face resource constraints.

However, officials argue that the temporary inconvenience is necessary to facilitate democratic processes.

Balancing Education and Democracy

Analysts note that the use of schools as polling centres highlights the challenge of balancing civic participation with continuity in education, especially in rural areas where alternative venues are limited.

As preparations intensify ahead of both party nominations and the subsequent by-elections, local authorities say security measures will be deployed to protect school property and ensure peaceful voting.

For residents of Emurua Dikirr, the coming weeks will bring both political activity and temporary changes to daily routines, as the constituency prepares to elect new leadership while safeguarding public institutions.

ALSO READ: Babu Owino Sends Cryptic Message to Winnie Odinga after Being Endorsed to Be ODM DPL

Education Ministry Orders Closure of Emurua Dikirr Primary Schools Ahead of UDA Nominations