President William Ruto has directed all schools in Baringo that had been suspended due to banditry to reopen in January 2023.
The Head of State said that children who have not been attending schools are denied their entitlement to education.
Ruto was at the annual Kimalel Goat Auction and Cultural Fair in Baringo on Thursday where he said that when children drop out of school will lead to the loss of an entire generation.
“County Commission and your team including regional commissioner, assistant county commissioner, chiefs, assistant chiefs and Nyumba Kumi, in January we want all those schools opened and children back in class,” said President Ruto.
Ruto said that banditry attacks in Baringo had been a significant problem.
Ruto said that everybody n Baringo must live freely in order for the county to develop economically.
“We are all united in making sure that we have a peaceful Baringo and a peaceful Kenya. Because of that, we have five schools in Baringo South that have since been closed, and another three in Baringo North,” added Ruto.
“The country will lose a whole generation of young people if schools are closed because of insecurity. It is the worst crime we can commit against our children,” he said.
Once the holidays are over, the regional officer has been instructed to camp outside schools to ensure that every child goes to school.
President Ruto warned county leaders that they should avoid politics and concentrate on boosting regional security.
He said that politicians should work together with security services to ensure security prevails in the region.
Another vice that has plagued the region is cattle rustling which has caused instability in Baringo in recent times.