Teacher killed by bandits in Kerio Valley two days after attack on school buses
Bandits have shot and killed a teacher in Kerio Valley two days after 13 students and two teachers were injured in an attack in the area.
The teacher, who taught at Kipyebo Primary school, was attacked on his way home from a Sunday service at Kipyebo Catholic church where he had delivered a sermon.
Last Friday, bandits attacked a convoy of school buses, killing one driver.
The buses were ferrying students of Tot Secondary school from a trip when they were ambushed on Friday night as they returned to their school.
Twelve students and two teachers are still in the hospital.
During the attack, the students and their teachers were from an academic tour when they were ambushed near Chesuman Primary School in Marakwet West.
Local leaders, among them Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen and Governor Alex Tolgos have condemned the attack and called on security personnel to track down and apprehend bandits wreaking havoc in the region.
“It is painful that the bandits no longer even spare innocent school children. This is unprecedented and shows that these bandits are merciless murderers,” said Tolgos.
Murkomen wondered why National Police Reservists (NPRs) have not been reinstated as promised by Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i when he met leaders from the region in Nakuru a fortnight ago.
“For how long will we witness the killing of our people for the government to act? This madness should come to an end,” said Murkomen who visited the injured at MTRH yesterday.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai have since directed the arrest and prosecution of principals of the three schools for flouting the Ministry of Education policy on night travel.
According to Matiang’i, the attack could have been avoided had the schools’ administration exercised caution and complied with the ministry’s policy on school transport beyond 6pm.
