Kerio Valley schools to remain open amid tight security
DIG Lagat visited the region and assured civil servants, including teachers and healthcare workers, as well as local residents, that their safety is a top priority.
The government has instructed schools in Kerio Valley to remain operational, citing enhanced security measures in the region.
This directive follows calls from teachers' unions—KNUT and KUPPET—for the withdrawal of educators from the area after the fatal shooting of Catholic priest Fr. Aloice Cheruiyot Bett by suspected bandits.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat visited the region and assured civil servants, including teachers and healthcare workers, as well as local residents, that their safety is a top priority.
He announced the deployment of National Police Reservists to guard all learning institutions and critical facilities in the area starting immediately.
Lagat also issued a three-day ultimatum for locals to hand over those responsible for the priest's murder.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining security, insisting that normal learning activities should continue uninterrupted.
"We have deployed enough officers to ensure our teachers and learners are safe, and schools must remain open," he said.
Lagat further stated that banditry would not be tolerated, emphasizing that a targeted security operation is underway to restore peace in the volatile region.
Despite reassurances from the government, local teachers' unions have maintained that educators will not resume duties in Kerio Valley due to persistent insecurity.
KNUT Marakwet Branch Secretary John Cheberi and KUPPET Elgeyo Marakwet Secretary Paul Biwott said the situation remains too dangerous, with non-local government workers now being targeted by criminals.
The teachers' withdrawal is expected to disrupt learning in over 20 schools, as rising banditry continues to spread fear across the region.
Meanwhile, the Catholic Church has urged swift action to bring those behind the violence to justice.
Bishop Dominic Kimengich of the Catholic Diocese of Eldoret made the appeal during a peace forum in Chesongoch, East Marakwet, attended by community members, leaders, and security officials, including Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat.
The bishop mourned the late Fr. Aloice Cheruiyot Bett, who had served in the area for only a few months before he was gunned down while returning from a mass in Kakiptul.
Local leaders at the forum warned against politicising the security crisis. Nandi Governor Stephen Sang and Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich called for tougher government action to tackle the criminal networks behind the attacks.
In response to the priest's killing, authorities have imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in Kerio Valley as part of efforts to restore calm.
Investigations into the priest’s killing are still underway.
The Deputy County Commissioner for Kerio Valley Sub-county confirmed the imposition of a dusk-to-dawn curfew, running from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., saying it aims to restore order and bolster ongoing security operations in the area.
