NAIROBI, Kenya – The government has directed the immediate reopening of all schools in the troubled Kerio Valley region, with a firm assurance of adequate security for learners, teachers, and other essential service providers.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat while announcing the directive emphasized that security personnel, including National Police Reservists (NPRs), have been deployed to guard schools and other critical facilities in the region to ensure normalcy returns after months of insecurity.
“I want to assure all government officers, especially teachers and doctors, as well as residents, that their safety is guaranteed,” said Lagat.
The Deputy IG also issued a stern three-day ultimatum to local residents to surrender those behind the recent attacks.
This comes on the back of the killing of Catholic priest Aloice Cheruiyot Bett by bandits.
The cleric was gunned down while returing to the Tot Catholic parish in an incident that has drawn widespread condemnation across diffetent quotas.
Meanwhile teachers’ unions, Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers ( (KUPPET), however maintain that no teacher will report to classrooms in light despite security assurance by the government.
