Students stage demonstration after colleague's killing

Marakwet Knut official John Cheberi warned that teachers in the valley would down tools if their security was not guaranteed. [Standard]

At least 320 students of an Elgeyo Marakwet school where a student was shot dead by bandits held protests to demand justice.

Queen of Peace Secondary students Monday, walked for over 20 kilometres to Marakwet East Deputy County Commissioner office in Chesoi to raise their concerns.

Cornelius Kiprono, a Form Three student was shot on the shoulder at about 7pm on Sunday near the school. He died later in the night at Kapsowar Mission Hospital.

Yesterday, school principal Mary Kipkosiom said the students were assured of their security.

“Teachers tried to calm them (students) down, but they stormed out,” she said.

Locals around the school migrated to safer areas on the Kerio escarpments following a string of bandit attacks.

Two months ago, two pupils, one from Embomir and Chesawach Primary school were shot dead by suspected bandits. A university student was in the same month also shot dead along the Chesongoch-Tot Road in the troubled Kerio Valley.

Kiprono’s killing brings to four the number of learners killed since April.

Marakwet Kenya National Union of Teachers Secretary John Cheberi warned that teachers in the valley would down tools if their security was not guaranteed.