Low turnout as schools reopen in bandit prone Laikipia county in earnest

LAIKIPIA,Kenya, Sep, 13 – Heavy security presence characterized the reopening of schools in areas that have been affected by banditry in recent weeks in Laikipia county resulting in the death of at least 10 people among them security officers.

At Ol Moran Primary School, a contingent of armed security officers patrolled the school grounds in order to ensure learning progressed smoothly.

Despite the heavy police presence, most classrooms were left empty with a sizable number of learners not reporting back to school. 

“At least there is sign as some students came…however only 65 learners out of 582, the total number of students in the school reported. I hope in due course others will join us as many fled their homes,” said James Tinega, Ol Moran Head teacher.

Tinega however said that a section of parents are still reluctant to bring their children back to school in feat that the bandits may strike at any time.

“I feel bad because my fellow classmates have not come but we are ready to learn. We feel safe when we see police patrolling our schools,” said a learner in Ol Moran Primary school.

At a neighboring learning institution, Tumaini Primary School,it was a case of the same script but different cast, as a good number of a learners failed to show up though learning proceeded in earnest throughout the day.

98 out of 300 students reported back to school with learners sharing rooms in order to facilitate easy learning according to the school administrator.

“Convincing children, parents and even teachers to come back is not easy but we need to give it time since some of them where they come from might be forced to pass through some bush and that might scare some. We are glad however government has provided security,” said, Peterson Muthua, administrator Tumaini primary school.

Two out of the five affected schools in the area are yet to be reopened.

“Merigwet had only two students in the morning and Arati Primary schools learners did not report since this was the most affected area and that is why we started rebuilding homes from there,” said George Natembeya, Rift Valley Regional Coordinator.

Natembeya however expressed satisfaction that learners had returned to school saying government is ready to ensure things return back to normal sooner rather than later.

“We hope when residents see police doing patrols and even NPR they will start feeling safe. The bandits are in the Laikipia Nature Conservancy and the security operation is ongoing…where people live we are doing a clean up and we will deploy police there permanently. There is nor reason to be concerned but incase anything happens, we will even escort our students when they are going to schools,” he said.

Parents have meanwhile been urged to facilitate the return of their children to school with government providing round the clock security and even food in the affected areas.

An entire police division will be stationed at the newly-gazetted Kirima division and two additional police stations established in the area while a training base for elite police officers will be established in the area and more police reservists hired and armed.

In the coming days, Ministry of Land officials are expected to set camp in the area, top of their agenda,expediting land adjudication and issuance of title deeds to residents.

A multi-agency government team will also be tasked to review the future of the management of the Laikipia Nature Conservancy that has been a source of conflict in recent years. The conservancy was Monday last week declared a disturbed area and a security operation zone.

A dusk to dawn curfew was also declared in the area.