What next for north eastern locals after schools close?

I received with shock the surprising news about the closure of learning institutions in North Eastern Kenya. This follows insecurity cases that have occasioned the area claiming the lives of many and leaving scores injured.

While the decision is timely, the fate of students from these marginalized communities is unknown. This poverty ridden society can only save itself through education.

We need to approach this issue liberally and with an open mind. Many people especially teachers and other non-teaching staff will automatically be unemployed. How will they survive?

In addition, education has been one of the driving forces in the development arena. Many trading centers, health centers and other social amenities have often cropped from learning institutions. These social amenities in turn provide employment opportunities. For instance health centers provide employment opportunities for the locals. Trading centers provide the locals with basic commodities such as food and other basic facilities.

Some regions especially in Kenya only come into the limelight through schools and education. For instance, some remote villages have produced academic gurus who are role models, opinion makers and set pacers in the country. Closure of schools in North Eastern will therefore render these places unnoticeable and unknown to many.

Lack of schools will make northern Kenya lag behind in development. This is due to lack of education among the locals which will also make them unable to secure jobs in their home county. This will fuel breed bitterness and hostility as they are bound to be left out in many government programs.

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The society will also lack role models. People who can bring change by influencing thoughts, ideas and perceptions among the locals. People who can enlighten the community about humanity and how to tame radicalized groups.

As such, security is a paramount prerequisite in any developmental agenda and even the normal life setting. The government should therefore restore sanity and peace in the region. This should involve the locals as it is clear that we might be having an enemy within. The locals’ participation will help the government track and arrest the perpetrators.

Leaders from the region also have a role to play. This involves religious leaders, politicians, business people and all other stakeholders. They know the area better since they have grew up in these area and they know the needs of the people and the problems they face.

North Eastern and any other part of Kenya is safe but human beings with their beastly                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      acts and their worst nature have turned these places to be a den of lions not good for human life.