KDF attack: Eldoret school missing 10 parents

President Uhuru Kenyatta, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud pay their respects to fallen KDF heroes at Moi barracks, Eldoret, yesterday. [PHOTOS: PETER OCHIENG AND MICHAEL OLLINGA/STANDARD

ELDORET: Even as President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Nigeria and Somalia counterparts were honouring the fallen KDF soldiers in Eldoret Wednesday, one school felt the full force of the attack.

Ten of the soldiers either killed or are still missing from the El Adde Camp attack in

Somalia were parents of 22 children at the school. It is a tragedy that Shammah Academy in Soy, located just about 6km from Moi

Barracks, is struggling to cope with.As she sat pensively in the congregation during the interdenominational prayers at the Kenya Defence Forces 9th Kenya Rifles at Moi Barracks – attended by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and his Somalia counterpart Hassan Sheikh Mohamud – theschool's director Consolata Wanjiku knew too well the pain caused by the attack.

Holding back tears, she told The Standard that things have never been the same at the school since the attack. "Ten among the soldiers that may have been killed or are still missing are parents in this school and the incident is a big blow to us," she said.

Majority of the soldiers killed during the attack were from the 9th Kenya Rifles battalion at Moi Barracks.

"We are talking of 22 pupils who were affected. The 10 parents each have at least two children in this school. As a school administration, we are grappling with what to do to help them," she said.

Wanjiku, popularly known to pupils as teacher Muthoni, said the affected children range from Baby Class to Standard Seven.

So hard hit was the school that it has had to organise guidance and counselling sessions at its premises to offer moral support to the children.

"We have also had to visit the homes of the affected families during these difficult moments to help where we can.

"The number (of affected families in the area) is huge because most of the soldiers have their homes around Soy area, close to the barracks," she explained.

It has been difficult to assure the children that everything is fine, though some of the younger ones are still unaware of the development.

"Our major concern is that the soldiers missing were the sole breadwinners for their families. Most of the widows are unemployed and our worry is whether or not these children will be able to continue with their education and achieve their dreams," said Wanjiku.

She says it would be wise for the Government to intervene in the education of the young children and support affected families after the DNA identification process is complete.

"It is just the beginning of the academic calendar for primary and secondary schools, and my prayer is that the children who will have lost their parents continue with their education," she added.

During the prayers, President Uhuru comforted the families of the gallant fallen soldiers saying their sacrifice for the nation would not be in vain.

"As a parent, and as their Commander-in-Chief, my heart goes out to them, and to their families and loved ones.

"Let me express mine, and the nation's, deepest condolences for this loss. My prayers are with you. The nation's prayers are with you," said the President.

He promised the families that the country would stand by them "for your loved ones stood with us and gave everything they had for our democracy, our peace and our security".