IN SHORT: Widely circulated social media posts claim Kenya delayed school reopening in April 2026 due to floods, with some using a "breaking news" graphic and a clip of president William Ruto. But the claims are false and use old footage taken out of context.
Several posts on TikTok and Facebook, circulating since around 27 April 2026, claim that Kenya's education ministry has postponed school reopening due to expected heavy rains and flooding.
One widely shared post features what appears to be a Citizen Digital "breaking news" graphic with a photo of education cabinet secretary Julius Migos.
It reads: "Breaking news: The minister of education, Mr. Julius Migos announces that all schools must remain closed until further notice due to predicted heavy rain which may lead to flooding in many areas across the country."
Follow us on WhatsApp | LinkedIn for the latest headlines
Other posts include a video clip of Ruto speaking from his official residence, State House, saying: "The Ministry of Education is directed to postpone the dates of reopening of all schools in the country for the second term until further notice."
Some videos also carry unrelated captions promoting "hacks" on how to win money by dialling mobile codes.
Collectively, the posts have racked up more than 643,000 views, 25,000 likes and hundreds of comments.
The context
Kenya experienced severe flooding in early 2026, with deadly flash floods hitting the capital Nairobi in March. The broader March-April rainy season also caused flooding across several regions, displacing communities and damaging homes and crops. Although the worst of the floods were in March, risks have persisted in some areas, with authorities continuing to issue warnings and coordinate response efforts.
Schools closed for the April holidays and were due to reopen for the second term on Monday, 27 April. Around the same time, rainfall picked up again in several parts of the country, prompting the Kenya Meteorological Department to issue heavy rain alerts. Some local authorities also raised concerns as reopening approached.
In this context, the viral posts claim the government responded by postponing school reopening nationwide. Is this accurate? We checked.
Old footage and fake graphics used to mislead
There is no evidence that the government or education ministry announced a nationwide postponement of school reopening in April 2026. The supposed "breaking news" graphic or story cannot be found on any Citizen TV official platforms, including its website and verified social media accounts. Nor is there any such announcement from the ministry's channels or from credible news sources.
A keyword search of the video clip of Ruto leads to its original source: a national address delivered on 3 May 2024 from State House, Nairobi. In that speech, the president was addressing severe flooding at the time, and the postponement referred to that specific period. The clip has been recycled out of context to suggest a current event. No similar directive was issued in April 2026.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
In fact, schools across Kenya reopened as scheduled for the second term, although there were some localised disruptions in flood-affected areas. There is no official indication of a nationwide postponement.
The inclusion of unrelated captions promoting mobile "money hacks" is another red flag. Such tactics are commonly used in misleading TikTok posts to drive engagement or trick users into subscribing to paid services.
The claim that Kenya postponed school reopening due to floods in April 2026 is false. It is based on a fabricated news graphic and recycled footage from May 2024.
