Nine Schools Closed Indefinitely As Pokot Raiders Kill Two in Marigat, Kenya

Nine schools have been closed indefinitely due to insecurity in Marigat, Baringo county.

This has paralysed learning for more than 5,000 pupils.

Seven schools were closed last Friday after suspected Pokot raiders attacked Mukutani and Arabal divisions, killing two people. Fifteen houses were torched during the six-hour attack.

The school closed on Friday are Ngelecha, Mukutani and Chepinyiny primary schools, Lorumoru, Karma, Kaptilomwo and Bartallo preschools.

This brings to nine the of schools closed after Rugus and Noosukro primary schools remain closed following similar raids since 2005.

Speaking to the Star on the phone yesterday, Mukutani Primary School head teacher Jackson Lekombe expressed fears that the school's KCPE candidates might not sit the national examination later this year if the insecurity persists.

"I fear the candidates may not have the courage to come back to revise for their final examination," he said.

Baringo South MP Grace Kipchoim and the Kenya National Union of Teachers condemned the attacks.

They asked the national government to urgently intervene to end the insecurity to allow pupils continue their learning.

"We cannot sleep as our children stay at home while their colleagues elsewhere are taking their lessons," said Knut Baringo branch executive secretary Charles Kamuren.