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Pandemic'¯Closes, Repurposes Kenya's Private Schools

Brenda Mulinya

   NAIROBI - John'¯Kamande'¯sells caskets out of a showroom in Kenya that,
   until'¯last year,'¯was full of young life.'¯'¯'¯

   The building'¯was a'¯privately-run Nairobi'¯kindergarten until July,
   when'¯the COVID-19 pandemic forced it to'¯close.'¯'¯'¯

   "The corona pandemic is the one that made me to get this shop, because
   the school was closed, and there were no kids,"'¯Kamande said.

   Kenya's Private School Association'¯says nearly 400 private schools
   were forced to close because of the pandemic, affecting 56,000
   students.

   Now the buildings are being repurposed, as shops, storage facilities,
   businesses and residences.

   Twenty-nine-year-old Nassir'¯Kirui'¯taught'¯math'¯and science'¯before
   his school closed, but'¯stayed on as the property manager after the
   building was converted into rental housing.'¯'¯

   "I'¯used to be a teacher'¯here," he said.'¯"But because of
   money,'¯I'¯lack money, that's why'¯I'¯asked'¯to be'¯the caretaker."

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