Parents from the volatile parts of Baringo County are demanding urgent and lasting solutions to the persistent insecurity in the region.
The concerned parents warned that continued attacks and unrest are jeopardising their children’s education.
Led by Emily Kwambai and Florence Busienei, the group stated that the learning environment has become unsafe, forcing the closure of numerous schools and resulting in an alarming rise in school dropouts.
“Insecurity has greatly hampered learning activities in our region,” said Ms. Kwambai. “Several schools have been closed for months, and some have not reopened to this day. How can our children learn under such conditions?”
The parents, speaking to the press earlier this week, lamented that many teachers are seeking transfers out of the affected areas for fear of attacks, leading to severe understaffing in local schools.
“We’re not just losing schools — we’re losing teachers too,” said Busienei. “They are afraid for their lives. No one wants to teach where bullets fly.”
Many families, they added, have fled their homes in search of safety, further disrupting children’s education.
“This has caused children to drop out of school completely,” noted Kwambai. “They are traumatized, displaced, and forgotten.”
The parents are now appealing to the national government to prioritize security operations in Baringo and similar hotspots. They also called for psychological support and compensation for families affected by banditry.
“We’ve lost lives, homes, and livelihoods,” said Busienei. “The trauma is real. The government must not only secure our villages but also help us rebuild and heal.”
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In 2025, banditry has taken a heavy toll on education in both Baringo and Elgeyo Marakwet counties. Several schools, including Sibilo Secondary, Koroto Primary, Akorayan Primary, and Ngaratuko Primary in Baringo, were closed indefinitely due to frequent attacks.
Others, such as Kosile, Yatya, Chepkesin, and Tuluk, have remained vulnerable despite past security operations. Even recently reopened schools like Kapindasm Primary continue to operate under fear of renewed violence.
In neighboring Elgeyo Marakwet, schools such as Cheptulel Boys Secondary and Lonyangalem Primary along the border have been hit hard, with institutions like Cheptulel Girls and Kases undergoing renovations after being vandalized.
With the 2025 academic year at risk for hundreds of children, local communities are making a desperate plea.
“Education is the only way out of poverty and conflict,” said Kwambai. “If we don’t act now, we’re destroying the future of an entire generation.”
Local leaders and education officials have expressed their desire to meet with Interior Ministry representatives to address the crisis and formulate an action plan.
By Kimutai Langat
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