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The killing of Thomas Kibet (pictured), 55, a peace crusader in the banditry-prone North Rift has dealt a big blow to peace efforts in the restive region.

Kibet, who was the head teacher at Kagir Primary School in Baringo North, was on a motorcycle with his wife and a child on their way to Kipcherere Secondary School in the same sub-county for a function on Saturday morning when they were ambushed by armed bandits in Namba area.

Kibet will be remembered for taking the risky job of teaching in the volatile region as other teachers fled the region due to rampant cases of insecurity.

He had survived another attack by cattle rustlers at the age of nine, leaving him blind.

He was yesterday described as a beacon of hope to learners in the area who would otherwise have dropped out of school.

Insecurity victims

Joan Chemtai Bwambok of the New Dawn of Hope, an organisation which has been reaching out to insecurity victims in the North Rift, said Kibet was the face of hope in the region describing his death as a big blow.

“We have lost our only source of hope. Condolences. May he rest in peace,” said Bwambok.

Top performing

Despite the odds, Kibet will be remembered for steering Kagir primary school to be one of the top performing schools in Baringo county.

The school topped in Baringo North in last year’s KCPE, where it produced a candidate with 411 marks.
This is despite it being in an area where most families are victims of banditry, either killed or left with permanent scars.

Kibet was on a motorcycle with his wife and child on their way to Kipcherere Secondary School for a function on Saturday when they were ambushed by armed bandits in Namba area.

According to Baringo Police Commander Julius Kiragu, the teacher was shot in the head during the ambush and died on the spot.

By the time of going to press, Kibet’s wife and their child were still missing.

The motorcycle belonged to a police reservist (NPR), who was also the rider.