By John Majau
Parents in the pastoralist counties in Kenya have been urged to ensure that they educate their sons in a bid to eradicate perennial banditry attacks in the region.
Samburu’s Archers post OCS, Benson Korir, said ending illiteracy is the best and sure way of dealing with cattle rustling that has left hundreds of people dead and other nursing gunshot wounds during past raids.
He said education exposes children to diverse culture where they learn other languages, different lifestyles and how to appreciate people from other communities.
“I urge parents in the pastoralist counties to educate their children in a bid to end incessant banditry attacks in the region. By taking our children to school, we introduce them to diversity and exposure where they are able to learn other languages and appreciate people from different communities other than theirs,” said Mr Korir.
The police boss regretted that many parents introduced their children to livestock keeping at an early age noting the trend was making them grow up while yearning for property ownership which pushes them into committing crimes to amass wealth and social status.
“Children always grow thinking about what they were introduced to while young. Train them on how to graze animals and by 10 years they will seek ways through which they can graze their own animals,” he said.
Korir said it was unfortunate that fewer numbers of learners are seeking government sponsorship opportunities due to illiteracy levels noting many parents had not enrolled their children to schools.
He said since women could not take part in the war and attacks, they needed to figure out a way through which they could help their community by ensuring children go to school.
“Educating the young ones in our society is a sign of promoting peace. We need to take advantage of the government bursaries and other scholarship opportunities to ensure an informed society,” he maintained.
The officer spoke during a joint meeting that brought together women groups from Isiolo and Samburu in bid to solve perennial conflicts between communities in the two counties which was facilitated by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission in partnership with Isiolo Peace Link.
