The education of over 100 learners in Isiolo County hangs in the balance following twin banditry attacks in the last two months with the hardest hit being seven KCPE candidates.
The fate of the learners at Isiolo’s Olng’arua Primary School and Adult learning center still remains unknown after property including two vehicles, solar panels, water tanks, a biogas plant, and buildings among other assets were destroyed during the first attack last month.
The criminals also raided the school and stole several items including shells of the torched motor vehicles a few weeks ago at the school located in Leparua location, Burat ward.
The school had become a beacon of hope for the children and adults who not only got education but also free meals that cushioned them against hunger.
The hardest hit by the incident are seven KCPE candidates who are unsure if they can sit for their final examination if no intervention comes.
“We have not had enough time to study and we are worried that this could negatively affect our performance in case we have an opportunity to sit for the examinations,” said Taini Kortol.
She said following the two incidents, they are living in fear of subsequent attacks.
Kortol added that they have not experienced peace and have been on the move due to fear that the criminals could strike again thus making it hard for them to even learn at home.
Ms. Damaris Lorokii, a parent at the school said, although some pupils in upper Grades had relocated to a nearby school, about three kilometers away, many were still stuck at home over fear of being attacked by marauding wild animals while on the way due to presence of a local conservancy.
“The nearest school is 3 Kilometres from here and there are all sorts of animals around making it hard for us to release the small children to school.
We are now worried that our children might indulge in criminal activities since they are no longer in school,’ said the distraught parent.
Jackson Kitonga, a teacher at the center, revealed that besides the shells of the vehicles, the criminals also vandalized gas cylinders, metal doors, and other stuff for sale as scrap metals during the recent attack.
Parents, learners, and school management have appealed to the government to intervene and provide basic learning facilities and beef up security to make learning possible.
“We appeal to the government to at least provide us with textbooks, water and deploy adequate security officers.
Our children can learn under the trees as things resume to normal,” said Ms. Kotol.
Two vehicles carrying the items were impounded and five people were arrested for the theft.
Apart from offering education, the facility also cushioned the children from the area from hunger during the prolonged drought by providing them with three meals every day.
The school has remained closed for two months now with no help to reopen forthcoming, dashing learners’ hopes of ever resuming learning.
By John Majau
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