A considerable number of schools in the bandit-prone areas in the North Rift are yet to resume normal service a year later despite the government’s efforts to restore normalcy.
According to the Ministry of Interior, 13 schools remain closed across three counties – Baringo, West Pokot, and Turkana.
The operation, dubbed ‘Operation Maliza Uhalifu North Rift’, was launched in March 2023 with a prime focus on ending cattle rustling and inter-community wrangles in the North Rift.
Several areas within Baringo, Turkana, Samburu, Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Marsabit, Laikipia, Isiolo, and Meru were considered ‘disturbed and dangerous’, as the government combined efforts from the National Police Service and Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to curb the menace.
A side-to-side of sheep and a maize plantation in Baringo county.
NPS
The banditry issue has been a curious problem in the North Rift leading to loss of lives and disruption of normalcy, with education being one of the most affected sectors.
Since the operation began, however, significant strides have been made, with several institutions being rehabilitated and some students relocated. Notably, there has been uninterrupted learning in the bandit-prone areas in 2024.
“Uninterrupted learning was experienced this whole year with candidates sitting for their KPSEA and KCSE exams without any security challenges,” the statement read in part.
The Ministry further revealed that Ksh100 million had been allocated to rehabilitate 34 out of 39 schools that were closed due to banditry.
Thanks to efforts from the KDF in the re-construction of schools affected in the North Rift, 4,000 students were able to resume learning while 21 schools have been reopened after renovations, most of them being in Baringo County, which has been the hardest hit by banditry incidents.
Besides aiding in normalising learning activities in the North Rift, the Maliza Uhalifu initiative also went a long way in disarming bandits. According to the Ministry, 172 firearms were recovered from the banditry, while cases of cattle rustling dropped from 63,054 stolen livestock to 23,668 – a 62% decline.
In August, former Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, who was spearheading the initiative, spoke on ways to permanently end the bandit menace in the country.
At the heart of Kindiki’s strategy is the construction of five special schools to foster peace among children from rival communities.
Meanwhile, in the Nyakach area of Kisumu County, security officers were recently issued a shoot-to-kill order in a bid to mitigate increased cases of banditry in the area.
Nyakach Deputy County Commissioner Job Adunda gave the directive on Saturday, December 14, as he admitted that the directive was prompted by the incessant cattle rustling which has resulted in the loss of innocent lives
Police officers engaged an armed resident after recovering sheep that had been stolen by bandits.
NPS