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The government has deployed additional security officers to schools in banditry-prone counties in the North Rift following the killing of five people in the past one week.

Rift Valley Regional Coordinator Abdi Hassan yesterday said every school in the volatile areas has been assigned 10 armed National Police Reservists (NPRs) in addition to regular police patrols.

 Hassan said an additional 200 National Police Reservists (NPRs) are being vetted with the process at advanced stage.

 “The officers are well equipped with basic operation materials. The long-term aim of the operation is to sustain peace within the area and its environs for schools and other business to operate optimally,” said Hassan. So daring are the bandits that they shot dead two people last week at Arabal in Baringo South sub-county barely hours after Hassan and other top security chiefs in Rift Valley toured the region.

Banditry-prone Kerio Valley has not known peace for the past one year with more than 10 schools yet to be re-opened for the first term.

 Three people among them a Kenya Police Reservist (KPR) were shot dead last week at Koibirir area in Marakwet East by bandits suspected to be from the neighbouring Tiaty sub-county.

Banditry prone

 The dead brought to five, the number of people who have been killed in the banditry prone North Rift in the past one week.

 On Monday last week, three people were shot dead at Koibirir in Marakwet East after herders from Tiaty sub-county crossed over to the Marakwet side resulting in a fierce shootout.

 Parents in the region who spoke to People Daily yesterday said they were ready to take their children to school on condition that they are assured of their safety.

 “We are ready for our children to resume their studies but the government should put in place measures to ensure that their studies are not disrupted by armed bandits roaming the area with impunity,” said Joseph Kibet, a resident of Kasiela in Baringo South sub-county.

 People Daily also established that some schools will require reconstruction after they were vandalised by the armed bandits and their equipment like solar panels and books stolen.

 The worst hit schools in Baringo South include: Embosos, Kasiela, Kapindasum, Arabal, Ramacha,Ngelecha, Naromoru,  Ruggus in Baringo South sub-county. Those affected in the neighbouring Baringo North sub-county are: Kamwetio, Chepkessin and Chepkew primary schools. The government has also announced that chiefs and their assistants from banditry prone areas will be armed with five police officers attached to a chief. Just last week, two students were killed at Ketut in Marakwet East Sub county by armed bandits who also stole livestock.

Pupil dead

The two, a Form Three student at Kabulwo Secondary School and her younger sister, who is a Class Seven pupil at Kabetwa Primary School died after the bandits sprayed them with bullets while they were herding their family’s livestock.

Baringo South MP Charles Kamuren called on the government to fast-track the reopening of the schools.

 “The government has all the machinery to ensure that normalcy returns to the region. What we are lacking is proper coordination from government agencies,” said Kamuren.  During his tour of the region last month, President William Ruto warned bandits wreaking havoc in the North Rift that their days are numbered even as he directed security personnel in the area to ensure that all schools closed in the area are re-opened and provided with enough security.