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Security has been beefed up at the Turkana-West Pokot-Elgeyo-Marakwet border following the killing of two people at Ombolion area by bandits last week.

The government yesterday sought to allay concerns that some candidates in West Pokot County may not sit the Kenya Certificate Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations next week due to insecurity.
West Pokot County Commissioner Apollo Okelo yesterday told candidates and parents that security personnel had been deployed in the hot spots to secure examination centres during the examination period.

Okelo (pictured) said all the necessary preparations had been put in place to ensure a conducive environment for candidates.

“All security measures have been put in place to ensure exams are done without any hitches. General Service Unit (GSU) and Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) officers are patrolling the region to help curb insecurity in the region. We will ensure the national exams continue smoothly,” said Okello.

Kindiki pledge

Following the new wave of insecurity along the porous border, learners, teachers and parents in the hot spot areas have expressed fears that some candidates may not sit exams.

Among the schools in affected areas are Cheptulel, Chesegon, Turkwel, Kanyerus and Katikomor secondary schools.

“I want to give an assurance that we have adequate security personnel and extra security officers who are undertaking patrol in the troubled areas. We don’t expect any problem or any challenges during this exercise,” he said.

He said the areas they are focusing on include the Turkwel Belt, Masol, Chepokokoh, Kamulogon, Kamelei, Tapach and settlements along the Kenya-Uganda border.

“Police vehicles have been dispatched in all areas and our security officers are in every school,” said the administrator.

Fresh attacks have left more than 100 people dead, scores of families displaced and learning paralyzed in schools in the troubled Kerio Valley region since the beginning of the year.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, who toured the region early this week, ordered the security teams to decisively deal with armed criminals who have been wreaking havoc in the region.