Turkwel Gorge Peace School, situated along the volatile West Pokot/Turkana border, has been indefinitely closed after a clash between students from the two communities.
Reportedly, recent allegations, however, have surfaced, suggesting that some Turkana students at the school may have been involved in banditry and a fatal incident involving a boda boda rider in the Sarmach area.
While the school’s principal, Elijah Obach, refutes these claims, stating that such accusations are mere hearsay, it has led to the closure of the school.
“The school currently has 300 students, evenly divided among the Pokot and Turkana communities, along with students from other Kenyan tribes,” Obach noted.
The area Chief Africanos Asilong dismissed the allegations but mentioned that some teachers have been inciting students against the school Principal.
A concerned parent, Charles Kedikedi, pointed out that the suspected students were identified by their peers following the altercation, and they returned to their villages once the General Service Unit (GSU) intervened.
Kedikedi also criticized the principal for allegedly showing favoritism towards students from one community, allowing them to accumulate large fee balances.
To address the situation, West Pokot County Director of Education Simon Wamae announced the temporary closure of the school to facilitate dialogue between parents from both communities.
Kapenguria MP Samuel Moroto emphasized the school’s role in deescalating hostilities and promoting cohesion among border residents, which is essential for ending enmity between the two communities.
The West Pokot County Police commandant, Peter Kattam, confirmed that the issue is under investigation.
“The incident on Monday night is believed to have triggered a series of events, including the shooting of a private guard from Kengen Power Company and a subsequent firefight between security officers and bandits,” Kattam stated.
Additionally, he noted that villages in the Turkwel belt, near the troubled Kainuk area, have been deserted, residents displaced, and property damaged.
“In the past month, the region has witnessed eight fatalities and the theft of hundreds of livestock, causing fear and uncertainty among residents,” he lamented.
By Evans Kapusia
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