The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Transmara Executive Secretary Willy Korir has urged residents of Transmara to remain calm and embrace dialogue following renewed tribal clashes between members of the Kipsigis and Maasai communities—violence that has already claimed the lives of at least four people.
The skirmishes, which broke out along the border of the two communities last week, have sparked fear among residents and disrupted source of livelihoods among the locals in the area.
Speaking to Education News on Monday, Korir condemned the violence “in the strongest terms possible,” stressing that tribal conflict undermines development and threatens the future of children in the region.
He noted that the two communities have coexisted peacefully for generations and should not allow conflict to divide them along ethnic lines.
“This violence does not help anyone. For years, the Kipsigis and Maasai have lived side by side, shared resources, and built families together. We cannot allow tribal clashes to take us backwards. It is a backward move in a society that should be focusing on development and the education of our children.” Said Korir.
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Korir said that recently one of the victims was a teacher and the current situation must be addressed to avoid affecting learning activities when the schools reopen in January.
He expressed deep concern over the death of a teacher in the clashes, saying the loss of educators not only affects families but also disrupts the learning of hundreds of students who rely on them daily. He reminded residents that “the right to life is paramount” and must be protected at all costs.
The union official urged parents to take a frontline role in advising their children not to participate in violence and to help restore calm in the area. According to Korir, community elders, youth groups, and local leaders must urgently come together to stop the cycle of retaliation before the situation escalates further.
He also called on the national government and security agencies to take decisive action against individuals in possession of illegal firearms, whom he accused of fuelling the conflict.
“Some of the people with guns are causing this violence,” he said. “Government must act swiftly to control gun ownership and restore safety in Transmara,” said the unionist.
Local administrators have been deployed to monitor the situation as security operations continue in the affected border villages.
Korir said peace is the only path to safeguarding the future of Transmara’s children and such recurrences can affect the education in the region.
“Our focus should be on development, unity, and ensuring our children are in school—not on shedding blood,” he said.
By Philip Koech
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