Education Ministry Puts Contingency Plan in Place to Keep National Exams Running During Expected El Niño Rains

# What happened On September 16, 2026, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba chaired a multi-agency preparedness meeting to prepare schools and national examinations for the El Niño rains expected in October–December 2026. The meeting brought together Ministry of Education field officers, the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), the Kenya Meteorological Service Authority (KMSA) and the National Disaster Management Unit.

# Why the meeting matters KMSA's seasonal outlook indicates a high likelihood that El Niño conditions will influence weather patterns through the end of 2026. The agency gave two probability figures: an 80–82% chance El Niño would develop in June–August and a 90–96% chance it would persist through the end of the year. Those forecasts point to above-normal rainfall over the October–December period and raise the risk of flooding, infrastructure damage and transport disruptions in parts of the country.

# What the plan focuses on The meeting concentrated on three linked priorities:

• Early warning and information sharing. KMSA will provide forecasts and updates to inform operational decisions for schools and examination centres.

• Emergency response and contingency measures. Agencies will coordinate responses where flooding, damaged roads or other disruptions threaten access to schools or exam centres so assessments can continue.

• Protecting infrastructure and property. The ministry is taking steps to reduce damage to school buildings and facilities that would interrupt learning or exam administration.

The cabinet secretary has also strengthened collaboration with humanitarian partners. An earlier August meeting with Kenya Red Cross Secretary General Dr Ahmed Idris set out emergency measures for schools in flood-prone areas.

# What this means for exams and students The ministry's stated objective is to keep the national examinations and assessments running, even in areas that may be affected by heavy rains, flooded roads or other weather-related disruptions. That includes planning alternate access arrangements for students and exam staff, securing exam materials and maintaining the academic calendar where possible.

Operational details—such as which centres will be designated as alternates, how exam materials will be moved, or specific county-level responses—were not listed in the release. The emphasis in this announcement is on coordination, early warning and readiness across the agencies responsible for weather, emergency response and exam administration.

# Immediate next steps

# Bottom line