By Talarus Chesang
Learning has been paralyzed as more than 2,000 pupils in 12 schools remain at home due to the recent bandit attacks in Baringo County.
Tension remains high in the area especially Baringo North Constituency after the killing of a 24-year old herder Vincent Tuwit and 65-year old Kipkenei Kimurio by armed bandits in Yatia and Kisumet villages on January 4th and 7th respectively.
“The attacks are worsening every day and now we don’t know where to run to with our school-children” Bartabwa resident cum a teacher John Kandagor said on Thursday.
Kandagor however pleaded to the government through Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiangi to intervene and address the situation urgently.
He said that Chepkesin, Kisumet, Chepkew and Kapng’etio primary schools were closed down completely while Toboroi, Kapturo, Chemoe, Kagir, Yatya, Ng’aratuko and Loruk operate partially.
“Once again I am appealing to you Matiangi to visit urgently because if the schools are closed then how will teachers work to get paid because they will automatically be rendered jobless” Kandagor said.
David Lomul, a resident of Kisumet and a retired teacher regreted that the merciless bandits could not even allow people to bury their loved ones slain by the bandits.
“Instead they want to destabilize and cause them more trauma and confusion” he added.
More than 40 people including two teachers have so far been killed by heavily armed bandits in the last one year in a series of attacks that have persisted since 2005.
Officers conducting security operations in the area.
Keitany further said the heavily armed bandits overpowered the Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU) officers in Kagir before making away with 242 goats.
In the first incident the bandits attacked and killed the herder Vincent Tuwit before making away with his 48 heads of cattle towards Tiaty.
Baringo North OCPD Fredrick Odinga confirmed the bandit attacks blaming the situation on poor roads and lack of communication network.
