As insecurity continues to hit the Kerio Valley region, enrollment of learners has drastically dropped.
The fate of many learners and teachers in the region hangs in a balance as they opt to stay at home because they fear attacks by bandits, bloody conflicts and constant battles between neighboring communities.
Reports indicate enrollment has dropped and teachers, a majority of whom are non-locals, are yet to report to their respective work stations for fear of being attacked by bandits who are believed to be hiding in the villages.
Despite the ongoing operation in the region, the insecurity agony has badly affected learning in more than 20 schools in Cheptulel Location along the West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet counties.
The recent attacks and killings targeting teachers and learners have inflicted fear and trauma among locals in the troubled Kerio Valley region.
A learner or teacher in the insecure Kerio Valley region is always uncomfortable, tense, confused, in a panic state but alert when in class because of not being sure of the next cause of action due to sporadic attacks and rampant killings that have been witnessed in the region.
The guns’ sounds and fear has made a section of learners and teachers to keep off from schools despite schools reopening for the first term three weeks ago after learning was disrupted by attacks between the warring communities.
A spot check Chesegon,Cheptulel Boys,Cheptulel Sapulmoi,Arpollo,Kipar primary and Cheptuel Girls schools Chesegon and Cheptulel areas along the West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet shows that the institutions have few learners after many relocated to safer places due to fear of attacks.
Ms Sayen noted that there were no security officers in the school.
“We need the police to man the girls especially at night. Right now we only have form two, three and fours and form ones have not yet reported,” she stated.
Mr Joshua Powon, the head teacher at Chesegon Primary School called on the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to intervene in the matter.
The head teacher said the population of teachers and learners in the region has drastically dropped due to rising insecurity.
“Those from the Marakwet side are not coming because they fear. This has affected education standards. TSC should replace those who have escaped and bring those from within the locality. We need enough teachers,” he said.
Kostot Primary school teacher Vivian Chepengat said that they will be forced to quit the profession if action will not be taken.
A pupil at Chesegon primary school who sought anonymity said that she has not gone to school because of fear.
“Many parents told me to stay at home till we are guaranteed of our safety,” she said.
A parent, Jackson Pele, noted that the Government should stop lying that security officers are in schools.
“Learners have only come today because there is a peace meeting,” he said.
Another parent Lomeri Kaperu said that insecurity upsurge has caused panic among residents, school children and teachers in the area.
“Schools need more security especially this time when schools are on since there has been an upsurge of attacks by armed bandits in the area. We need at least two police officers in every school. We fear because without security no learning or development will take place in the area,” said Mr Kaperur.
Kenya National Union of Teachers[KNUT] Secretary in West Pokot Martin Sembelo expressed concern over the recent spate of killings along the West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet border, a situation that has paralyzed learning in the region thus teachers and learners are staying in fear.
“We need more NPRS and police officers in schools or we shall tell our teachers not to go to the areas,” he said.
He urged the state to deploy security officers in every school in border schools.
“Security of everyone is very important. Insecurity has disturbed exams, curriculum and economy,” he said.
Mr Sembelo called on the Government to give relief food to schools in the region citing that last year crops failed due to drought.
“Children are starving and those being relocated to other schools need to get food .Learners are staying like refugees and they need to learn and complete the syllabus hence sit for their exams,” he said.
Mr Sembelo noted that teachers from affected Counties are now on the frontline preaching peace because many people in the region have an appetite for education.
“All teachers are brothers and sisters. Teacher’s like each other. We don’t want a Precambrian way of doing things. We want the Government to put up resources like boarding schools, health centers and other social amenities in the region,” he said.
Mr Sembelo said that insecurity upsurge has caused panic among residents in the area.
“We are afraid of the series of attacks after living for close to three years in peace with our neighbors. We strongly condemn the killings. Teachers and learners are in panic. We need police officers and NPR in all schools along the border,” said Mr Sembelo.
West Pokot Knut Chairperson Joel Partich a plead on the Government to beef up security and increase security personnel to ensure teachers are safe
He called on elders from both communities to get an amicable solution to this perennial problem.
However, the Government has assured residents that security has been beefed up in all schools in volatile areas.
“Parents and learners along the West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet had fear over opening schools but children have started learning. The peace committees have employed a security team and everything is okay. No school has been closed in West Pokot,” West Pokot County commissioner Apollo Okello told the press at Chepareria.
Fresh attacks have left more than 40 people dead since the year began.
By Kipilat Kapusia
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