Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has pledged to pay return fare for learners stranded in Nairobi after the Ministry of Education postponed term two opening dates by a week.

Parents across the country were caught unaware, after Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu issued a statement at 1 am on Monday, April 29, 2024 - announcing the change of opening dates to May 6.

Speaking on Radio Citizen, Sakaja promised to compensate parents and students stranded in the Nairobi area following the directive by Machogu.

"I have seen a few photos showing some students who are stranded. So when I leave here I will go and pay for their bus fare for their return home. I will also buy them soda so that they have something to eat," he said.

The Nairobi governor further defended CS Machogu for issuing the notice at wee hours of the night.

"You can't say that the minister did not think it through. Maybe there is information he received at night and it is for the better good. Nobody should ever think that the government makes a decision with ill motives it is just that the information they have we don't have," noted Sakaja.

"Let us listen and try to mitigate those factors."

Governor Sakaja noted that the county had already prepared food for learners under the Dishi na County programme which will be distributed to persons affected by floods.

"There is too much food I even think some of it will be taken to prisons. They are 184,000 plates and those in the camps are 14,000. We have planned the logistics on how that food will be transported even to places where there is need," he noted.