73 schools in Kerio Valley shut down following priest's killing

54 Primary Schools and 19 Secondary Schools in the volatile Kerio Valley have been shut down following increasing cases of insecurity in the region and the killing of Catholic Priest Fr Alois Cheruiyot Bett by armed assailants on Thursday.

Speaking in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County, teacher's unions including the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) and the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) from the County have backed a proposal by the union's national leadership to close the schools until sustainable peace is realized in the region.

Led by KUPPET Branch Secretary Paul Biwott and his KNUT Counterpart John Cheberi, the teachers said that they fear for the safety of their teachers especially non-locals who appear to be targeted by the assailants believed to be bandits.

The teachers claimed that the recent pattern of killings in the region has seemed to be well calculated attack on non-locals including the killing of three police officers.

They called for the relocation of non-local teachers to other schools for their safety.

"We want those behind the brutal killing of Fr Bett to be arrested and face the law. You know that these criminals are now targeting non-locals. Our teachers are living in fear and we want them to leave as of tomorrow so that they can save their lives," said Cheberi.

Cheberi said that the teachers will only return to class if the perceived bandits are disarmed and the region enjoys lasting peace.

"If a Priest, a symbol of peace can be targeted and killed for preaching peace, what will happen to teachers, the majority who come from other regions?" Questioned Cheberi.

Biwott claimed that tribal wars among the communities living along the valley were now hurting the student and their teachers therefore hindering education in the region.

"We call on Internal Security Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to ensure that the insecurity issue facing the Kerio Valley is solved once and for all," said Biwott.

Biwott condemned the killing of non-locals noting that Kenyans have a right to live and work in any part of the country.

"We do not want to traverse on that dangerous path of chasing away non-locals who are employed to help our people by offering services in various sectors," asserted Biwott while calling for unity.

Biwott called on the Teachers Service Commission, TSC to allow teachers who will seek to be transferred to other regions for the sake of their safety.

"We are not happy with this decision but such teachers have no choice as it is a matter of their safety and their lives are more important than anything else," said Biwott.