More than 30 schools still shut as families stay away from hotspots in northern Kenya

North Rift leaders attend a peace meeting at Kagir in Baringo County yesterday. Leaders drawn from Turkana, West Pokot, Samburu and Baringo counties have for the last two weeks been sensitising warring communities to stop cattle rustling. [PHOTO : KIPSANG JOSEPH/STANDARD]

NAIROBI: More than three weeks after schools reopened for the second term, over 30 institutions along the borders of West Pokot, Turkana and Baringo counties still remain closed due to insecurity.

A recent survey by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) shows over five schools in Yatya within Baringo County were shut down due to the recent spate of insecurity.

The fate of about 5,000 pupils hangs in the balance as they opt to stay at home for fear of sporadic attacks by bandits.

KNHCR Commissioner Suzzanne Chivusia said over 20,000 civilians, among them vulnerable women and children in the insecurity-prone border regions, have been displaced.

Ms Chivusia said the affected families were in dire need of humanitarian support and challenged the Government to restore calm even as she appealed to other humanitarian agencies for assistance.

Thousands displaced

Since the Nadome attack, which claimed over 50 lives and displaced thousands, other areas where pupils have not reported back to school due to insecurity include Kiserian, Nadome, Kapedo, Logumgum, Chebinyiny, Loruk, Yatya and Ngelecha.

The Nadome attack, which also left scores injured and orphaned about four weeks ago, has caused fear among residents most of who have resorted to withhold their children from schools.

According to KNCHR report, with continued target on security and humanitarian agencies, access to medical and other humanitarian support services has become difficult.

Although leaders from the region initiated a peace mission targetting the pastoral communities, residents feel more has to be done to end the hostilities.

The peace caravan led by governors from the three counties, and which ends today in Tiaty constituency, has brought some hope to the residents as the wave of attacks subside.

Kositei location chief Assuroi Africana, who spoke to The Standard on phone Wednesday, said calm had returned in the area and there was hope that pupils would return to schools.

But speaking to The Standard on phone, West Pokot County Education Director John Owino  said all the schools in West Pokot County had reopened and learning was taking place as usual, disputing the survey by KNCHR that indicated some of he schools in West Pokot, Turkana and Baringo counties had not yet reopened due to insecurity.

Owino also questioned the authenticity of the survey adding that his office should have been contacted for more information on the situation.

“I am not aware of such findings, but my office has records showing that our students are currently in learning institutions,” he added.

Turkana South District Education Officer Dickson Ogonya confirmed that indeed some schools had been closed but said the number was not that big.

Ogonya said its only two schools at the warring Turkana-Pokot border that had been closed due to continued insecurity in the area.

“Lokwar and Nakuse schools were closed early last year. The schools closed when the people moved away from that area because of the continued raids and killings in the area. The schools have not been operational since then,” said Mr Ogonya.

Ogonya added that Lorogon Primary school which sits at the Turkana-Pokot border delayed opening because of the insecurity at the border.

Lorogon village has experienced a series of attacks and in the last last few months has been under siege by armed bandits.

UNIFIED STRATEGY

Turkana County Director of Education Nicodemus Anyang’ insisted that most of the schools in the region had reopened for first term.

Anyang’ added that they had transferred most students from the insecurity-prone areas to schools in secure places.

He added schools along Turkana and Baringo border have experienced low attendance due to continued attacks.

“Schools in Kapedo and Nadome areas have experienced a low turn-out this term. The teachers are also scared to come back to school because of the killings that have been experienced in that region,” said Anyang.

Meanwhile, teachers unions have expressed concern over the growing hostilities that have left schools closed and learning suspended in many schools across the country.

Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) and the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) Wednesday called for a unified strategy to confront insecurity.

Knut Secretary General Wilson Sossion said the warring communities in the Rift Valley region must ensure peace prevails for learning to go on.

“In Baringo for instance, if these communities do not ensure security, there shall be no learning and that is disaster in waiting and this is a major concern for us,” said Mr Sossion.

He said the ministry of Education in collaboration with relevant ministries must make plans to ensure children go to school.

“We do not want to go the Nigeria way where one state has closed schools for about one year,” said Sossion.

Kuppet Secretary General Akelo Misori said the union will convene a special governing council meeting today to deliberate on the issue.

He said pressure had been piled on teachers to deliver quality education but noted that the working environment was not conducive.

Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) Chief Executive Officer Joseph Kivilu said the Council was making plans to ensure all candidates sit examinations at the end of the year.

—Reports by Wilberforce Netya, Joan Letting and Irissheel Shanzu and Augustine Oduor