Loramoru Primary School in Baringo County, which was reopened two years ago after a 13-year closure due to insecurity, was demolished at midnight on Saturday by individuals alleged to be Kenya Forest Service (KFS) officers, who claimed the institution stood inside the gazetted Mukutani Forest.
Parents and teachers arriving to prepare for reopening found the school flattened, upending plans for the new term and reviving fears in a community still recovering from years of conflict.
The school, which had drawn learners from both Pokot and Tugen communities was widely regarded as a peace-building anchor in an area once engulfed by violence. Residents, stunned by the demolition, said the loss of the school threatens fragile gains in cohesion and leaves families uncertain about how to proceed with education and resettlement efforts.
Witnesses reported that seven Toyota Land Cruisers and a lorry arrived at the site, with officers armed with axes, power saws, and mallets. The demolition reportedly lasted nearly two hours, bringing down the staffroom, teachers’ quarters, and the school store. Food supplies and remaining construction materials were said to have been carted away, further compounding the disruption.
Community leaders questioned how one arm of government could reconstruct the school as part of a resettlement programme while another was demolishing it and evicting families who had returned after relative calm. They argued that such contradictory actions undermine public confidence and risk reversing progress made through security investments and community reconciliation.
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Headteacher Joseph Kiprop said the school was duly registered and had seen steady enrolment growth as families embraced education to counter radicalization and banditry. He added that the alleged KFS officers took away the school’s registration certificate and other facilities during the operation, raising concerns about administrative interference and continuity of learning.
Parents expressed anger over the handling of the matter, calling it insensitive and confusing. They vowed to keep their children in school regardless of the circumstances, even if learning must continue under trees, insisting that education remains central to rebuilding lives and sustaining peace.
Baringo leaders including Baringo South MP Charles Kamuren, Senator Kiprono Chemitie, Mogotio MP Reuben Kiborek, and Woman Representative Florence Jematia, condemned the demolition and warned against jeopardizing the prevailing peace after residents had been displaced for 13 years.
The leaders noted that while the government has invested heavily in restoring security, actions like the demolition risk undermining resettlement and community trust.
By Masaki Enock
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