Learning activities in Baringo County have recorded a significant, though gradual, recovery following intensified multi-agency security operations targeting banditry in the North Rift region.
By January 2026, improved security conditions have allowed several schools to reopen and others to register increased learner enrollment, marking a turning point for education in previously volatile areas.
Under the ongoing Operation Maliza Uhalifu, at least 14 schools that had been closed for up to three years due to insecurity have since resumed operations, with police officers deployed to safeguard learners and teachers.
A teacher in one of the reopened schools said the return of learners has brought relief to communities that had been displaced by violence.
“We are happy that children are back in school. For years, learning was disrupted, but now we are slowly returning to normalcy,” said the teacher.
Parents also expressed cautious optimism, noting that improved security has encouraged learners who had previously dropped out to return.
“We thank the government for restoring peace. Many children had stayed at home for too long, but now they are going back to school,” said a parent in Baringo North.
The government has also stepped up support to the education sector by renovating damaged schools and, in some cases, converting classrooms into boarding facilities to enhance safety for learners and teachers.
Education officials said the move is aimed at protecting children in remote and previously insecure zones.
“We are working to ensure that schools are not only reopened but also made safe through boarding arrangements and improved infrastructure,” said a local education officer.
Despite the progress, authorities acknowledge that some areas in Baringo South and Baringo North have in the past experienced temporary disruptions, prompting continued security deployments.
Community leaders have consistently called for long-term solutions to end the cycle of insecurity and ensure uninterrupted learning.
“We want permanent peace. Our children cannot continue learning under fear and uncertainty,” said a community elder.
At the national level, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has been spearheading intensified security operations in the Kerio Valley, reporting notable gains in restoring calm.
According to the Interior Ministry, more than 2,000 illegal firearms have been recovered through the ongoing disarmament exercise, with some bandits voluntarily surrendering weapons.
“Through the disarmament programme, we have significantly reduced the number of illegal firearms in circulation,” Murkomen said.
He noted that the multi-agency security team has effectively weakened bandit networks under Operation Maliza Uhalifu, contributing to improved stability across the region.
“The operation has silenced guns in many parts of the North Rift, and we are committed to sustaining this progress,” he said.
The government has also embarked on the construction of security roads through the Kenya Rural Roads Authority network to improve mobility for security patrols between Baringo and Elgeyo Marakwet County.
Murkomen further said the state is now targeting gun-running syndicates believed to be fueling banditry in the region.
“These criminal networks are being dismantled systematically. We are not just dealing with bandits on the ground but also those supplying weapons,” he said.
He also revealed plans to deploy a specialised police unit to combat insecurity and related crimes such as the illicit alcohol trade in the affected areas.
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The Interior CS reaffirmed the government’s commitment to long-term stability, saying sustained peace is critical for development and education.
“Our goal is lasting peace. Only then can schools fully function, and communities thrive,” Murkomen said.
By Kimutai Langat
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