NAIROBI, Kenya, June 9 – The Government will construct five cross community schools in an Education for Peace Initiative as part of its efforts to establish enduring peace in the volatile North Rift region.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said the five schools; Dira, Todo, Tuwit, Lomuke, and Chepchoren, will offer compulsory education to pupils from Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo and West Pokot Counties.
Kindiki made the announcement Friday at Dira Primary School, Tiaty Constituency following a meeting with area leaders and security chiefs.
By studying together, CS Kindiki says 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 fuel insecurity.
“To achieve peace in these regions, we will construct five schools, to allow children from West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet and Turkana to study together to guarantee peaceful-co-existence in the future,”
The Interior CS stated that 15 schools that were vandalised and destroyed by bandits in Tiaty Constituency will be reconstructed.
He expressed government’s commitment to protect all learning institution in the bandit prone areas to facilitate access to education.
“All pupils must go back to school, and the Government will make sure they are secure to facilitate uninterrupted learning,” he added
Kindiki further said that the Government will set up irrigation projects along Kerio river which he argues will bring together people from all communities “so that as they work together, peace will prevail.”
This announcement comes a day after the Government ordered the re-opening of schools that were shut down as a result of banditry in West Pokot County.
Kindiki said Thursday during a security meeting in West Pokot’s Sigor area, that the government is committed to ensuring every child in West Pokot and the entire country has access to education.
The Interior CS stated that the government has set aside Sh100 million to aid in the rebuilding of schools that were vandalized by bandits who have wreaked havoc in the County.
“All schools that were closed as a result of banditry must be reopened. All schools whose infrastructure was vandalised by bandits will be reconstructed by KDF officers supported by NYS officers,” he said.
The move comes a day after the government allocated a similar amount to the rebuilding of schools in Turkana.
While addressing the issue of banditry, CS Kindiki underscored that the government’s approach would not involve collectively punishing or profiling entire communities or regions.
Instead, the focus would be on holding individuals accountable for their actions.
“The Government doesn’t believe in collective condemnation of communities. Crime is individual, and perpetrators of banditry will be dealt with individually,” he added.
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