Schools closed in W. Pokot due to banditry to be re-opened

Interior Ministry says schools closed due to bandit attacks in West Pokot are set to be re-opened. While assessing abandoned schools in he area, Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki says a restoration process will be undertaken in the institutions.
Kindiki said schools to be reopened include Chesegon Primary School, Cheptulel Primary School, Cheptulel Boys Secondary School, Sapulmoi Primary School and Kisaa ECD in Pokot Central Sub-County.
“Additionally, Lonyangalem Primary School, Kour Primary School and Songok Primary School in Pokot North Sub-County and Karon Primary School in Pokot West Sub-County will be reopened,” he stated.
The CS further pointed out that the training of 205 National Police Reservists (NPR) shall commence on Thursday at Chesta Teachers College Grounds in Sigor Constituency.
They will be deployed to support the National Police Service (NPS) and the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) after completing their training.
“To augment security at the border areas where West Pokot County intersects with Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet and Turkana Counties, the training of 205 National Police Reservists (NPR) shall commence tomorrow at Chesta Teachers College Grounds in Sigor Constituency,” he added.
He called on the public to avoid ethnic, political, and sectarian characterization of security matters. Kindiki however, urged them to provide space for security agencies to discharge their responsibility without any interference whatsoever.
This comes a day after Kindiki said the government will increase the number of National Police Reservists (NPRs) in the troubled north with the goal of permanently eliminating the scourge of banditry.
Kindiki said this is part of efforts to intensify the fight against the vice. He stated that NPR recruitment will be streamlined, with a clear operational command in place to ensure that Reservists are not drawn into local political issues.
“Previous governments also tried very hard to eliminate these bandits and cattle rustling. Give us more time, we will track the bandits down and end this menace! We will do what it takes as a government to fight these bandits,” he said.
The CS said, re-organizing the management of command and control of the NPR will boost efforts of both the National Police Service (NPS) and Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) in the operation.
“Their main work will be to help Kenya Police Service Officers and KDF soldiers seal off escape routes used by bandits’ because they have a better understanding of the terrain, being locals,” he stated.
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