By Jeremiah Chamakany
Forty three years ago Kaggir village in Bartabwa Division, Baringo North sub-county was under heavy attack by the cattle rustling bandits who combed the village collecting any livestock that appeared in their sight.
In gross human violation the outlaws who were armed to the teeth could not spare any human being who seemed to stand in their way as they shot discriminately at anybody trying to oppose them.
The aftermath was a great anguish of families losing loved ones and those victims who survived were left with scars of untold suffering that would always remind them of that fateful day.
One of such victims was Mr. Thomas Kibet who was then a tender young man who brushed shoulders with death but although the ordeal left him without eye sight he has every reason to thank God for sparing his life.
Currently a teacher at Kaggir Primary school in Baringo, Mwalimu Kibet had his eyes ripped off by a bullet from the aimless striking bandits.
“A bullet from the cattle rustlers brushed through my eyes and rendered me blind.” Kibet a CRE and English teacher said during an interview.
In his story Mwalimu Kibet has defied all odds living in a zone that would better be described as a tough battle field to make a brilliant and reliable teacher hardened and focused on changing the community that has not known peace for decades into a better place through education.
The eyesight impaired teacher who has survived more than enough attacks from cattle rustlers is keen enough to note that he wants to transform his community, and is refusing to move an inch from the conflict zone!
“I have survived countless attacks and am still not ready to move out of this conflict zone. This is my home and I want to be a voice of change’’ he told said, revealing that his own family and close friends have countless times asked him to leave the conflict zone to no avail.
Being visually impaired, close realatives and friends feel that Kibet is more vulnerable and with very little chances to survive in case of attacks by the bandits a thought that he has adamantly refused accept at all.
“At one point the bandits attacked and everyone went into hiding and left me alone, I waited patiently for a bullet to pierce through my body but thanks to one brave woman by the name Mercy Keitany rushed back to my rescue, took hold of my hand and led me to a place of hiding.
That close encounter with death has emboldened me to soldier on till a lasting solution for the animosity will be found.” Mwalimu vowed.
Kibet who took his ‘O’ Level education at Thika School for the Blind because of his condition passed his Kcse exams and joined Asumbi Teachers College where he graduated in 1998 as a P1 teacher
Throughout his academics journey Kibet had his community at heart dreaming about how he could better and change his people’s mind set and turn them away from some of the preposterious cultures like cattle rustling.
Going back to his home in Kagir, Kibet was very unhappy that his village did not have a single school.
He shortly served as a BOM teacher in Marigat Integrated Primary school which was a far off from his own village where he earned a meager Ksh1, 500 a month.
Back in his home village children would walk long distances to attend classes in Yatia and other neighboring schools.
Then a thought of starting a school in his village was conceived which would later see his dream of seeing young people receive education coming true.
“I was worried that illiteracy levels within my village would remain constant. Development cannot be realized when a population is not able to read and write.
People who are stuck in ancient cultures and barbaric practices took away my precious eye sight! If they were enlightened like the rest of the world, they wouldn’t have done so.
I don’t want our people to remain down trodden in due to illiteracy and unbecoming backward culture.” he told said emphasizing that education brings mental shift, a road to an enlightened society.
Kibet shared the idea of starting a school with several stakeholders in his village and other places that was necessary and he gladly notes that he received a positive response as all the people that matter warmed up to his idea to put up Kaggir primary school.
“Villagers agreed to donate some land on which we erected some two makeshift classrooms and with savings from my small salary I hired two Untrained Teachers to teach in the then newly established but unregistered school. And that is how Kaggir Primary school came into being.” Mr. Kibet explained.
Kibet continued to support the school with his BOM salary until he was hired by the Teachers Service Commission in the year 2001.
The journey to establish the new school was not without challenges and one of them was registering the school.
“At the time during which the school was established and ready for registration the government issued a policy through the Ministry of Education, stopping any further registration of new schools. This was a big blow to us as a community but by the grace of God we made it.” Reminisces Kibet
“Im grateful to the former Kabarnet sub-county commissioner Mr. Abduba, a real gentleman, whom upon approaching him and presented my request he in turn took up the issue with the ministry of education and my petition to register Kagir Primary school was granted without any further delay.” Mwalimu reiterated adding that their first candidates sat KCPE in the year 2015.
People living in in Baringo North are like wildebeests huddling together in fear, and always scatter in panic every time they mistake a rattle of a dry leaf for a paw of a stalking lion.
Fresh cattle rustlers often visit this part of Baringo County for induction, and get a chance to see how those expectant mothers turn into instant sprinters just at the sound of those deafening AK47 gunshots!
Very recently when cattle rustlers visited Yatia, just next to Kaggir village to see if there was anything left, Teacher Thomas Kibet was the only one left standing after AK 47 gun shots sounds filled the afternoon blue sky.
“That is how the cattle rustlers announce their siege! They use the element of surprise. It is sad that they don’t spare even women and children. In 2017 in a neighbouring village called Natan they killed a fleeing woman and her three day old baby.” Kibet sadly explained
Now a Diploma and Degree Holder from KISE and Moi University respectively Mwalimu Kibet believes that one should not run away from problems but rather should stand and fight for redemption.
Choosing to lead by example he is steadfast to remain standing in an environment where many government employees resign or seek transfers away from the conflict zones.
”I love teaching not because of the Salary but because the impact the act of teaching leaves in the leaerners to create change in the society” he said adding that it feels good when a teacher is approached by the people he impacted and hear them saying thank you. “Asante sana Mwalimu,wewe ulikuwa mwalimu wangu.”
”Meeting some my old students, and learning that they became people who matter in the society is greatest joy “He stated with tears of joy flowing down his cheeks
He points out that Patriotism is not running away from problems, but it is the act of facing the problems head on, even at the cost of one’s life.
He is full of praise for the KDF soldiers in Somalia who at the cost of their blood, are ready to face the enemy and ensure peace at the boarders.
He is also very proud and feel inspired by the story of the Mau Mau; who chose not to run away from the colonial oppression, but faced the colonialists and ensured that we got our first liberation.
He is urging all the Baringo County Professionals to ensure that they make whatever contribution they can to solve the problems of insecurity, hunger, floods just to mention a few .
“Baringo County is our home. Let us not run away from our county despite the challenges we are facing. Some of us were educated through Harambees and now it’s time to give back to the society that nurtured us under very difficult circumstances. We are the solution,” the teacher urged.
