The government has initiated the construction of cross community schools as a strategy to foster peace among residents in Elgeyo Marakwet, Turkana, Samburu, Laikipia, West Pokot and Baringo who have been facing insecurity challenges for years.
Speaking during a meeting with area leaders and security chiefs at Dira Primary School, Tiaty Constituency on Friday, Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki said that Dira, Todo, Tuwit, Lomuke and Chepchoren Primary schools will offer compulsory education.
“In order to bring lasting peace, we will build five special schools so that children from different communities including those from West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet and Turkana can learn together and collaborate in promoting peace in future,” he said.
Kindiki said that the reconstruction programme will encourage education uptake, integrate children from different communities at an early age and limit their recruitment into banditry.
The CS noted that by studying together, children from different communities will help create a new generation that will foster long-lasting peaceful and harmonious coexistence and end years of cross-border hostilities that has been fueling insecurity in the region.
He assured locals that the government is committed to ensuring the safety of the learners to facilitate uninterrupted learning.
“The Government will set up irrigation projects along Kerio River that will bring people from all communities together so that peace will prevail as they work together,” he added.
Kindiki later visited the sites earmarked for construction of the schools at the intersection of Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo and West Pokot.
This comes a day after the government ordered the reconstruction and reopening of schools that were shut down due to banditry.
By Thuita Jaswant
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