TSC Given 24 Hours to Transfer Teachers in Banditry Prone Areas
The Kenya Teachers in Hardship and Arid Areas Welfare Association’s (KTHAAWA) National Secretary Wagonya Wangenye has demanded that the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) transfer teachers in the banditry-prone areas earmarked for security operations to safer places.
Speaking to the media, Wagonya said that the safety of teachers is crucial and that the Commission should transfer them to safe areas within the Counties of Baringo, Laikipia, Samburu, Turkana and West Pokot.
The Unionist also said that the Commission should ensure that hardship benefits for the teachers should not be affected by the transfers occasioned by ongoing security operations.
Wagonya was speaking following Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof Kithure Kindiki’s statement, urging TSC to consider recruiting teachers to handle schools in the areas earmarked for security operations.
The places that Wagonyi urged the Commission to transfer teachers include:
- Korkoron Hill, Tandare Valley and Silale Gorges in Baringo County.
- Mulogodo Forest, Kamwenje, Warero and Ndonyoriwo, Lukuruki Hills, Losos and Kiape Caves and Sieku Valley in Laikipia County.
- Ltungai Conservancy, Longewan, Nasuur, Lochokia and Lekadaar Escapments; Lolmolok Caves, Pura Valley, Malaso Escarpment and Suguta Valley in Samburu County.
- Kapelbok, Nakwamoru, Lebokatm Ombollion, Nadome and Kamur Caves in Turkana County, The Turkwel Escarpment between West Pokot and Turkana Counties.
Bandit Seizes a Primary School Turning it into His Home
A bandit in Baringo County seized a primary school block in Baringo County and turned it into his home in an uncharacteristic show of defiance.
A shocking revelation has hit the headlines after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki told the Senate that a Standard Eight classroom is now the man’s bedroom while standard seven belongs to his first wife.
The second wife occupies the Standard Six classroom while his firstborn child has occupied the Standard Five classroom.
During his appearance before the Senate’s National Cohesion Committee, Prof Kindiki revealed that the bandits have terrorized Baringo South and Baringo North leading to the closure or twenty-one schools.
Fortunately, the government has managed to reopen 14 learning institutions but the school that CS Kindiki did not name in the Senate is still closed.
According to him, the remaining seven schools had been completely destroyed but revealed that Kes. 100 million has been allocated to rebuilding them. It is expected that they will reopen in the coming term.
The CS said pledged during the session that the ongoing security operation in the banditry-prone north rift region will continue until the problem is eliminated entirely.
The Interior CS further revealed to the Senate that the security operation going on will be sustained until the region is populated with enough security personnel who will only leave the area once bandits have been cleared from the area and safety is guaranteed.
Just over two weeks ago, Prof Kindiki declared six counties in the North Rift Region as ‘disturbed and dangerous’ after waves of banditry attacks which led to the loss of property and many people including police officers dead.
The counties declared ‘disturbed and dangerous’ are West Pokot, ELgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, Laikipia and Samburu.
CS Kindiki informed the Senate Committee led by Marsabit Senator Mohamed Chute that the government has allocated Kes. 20 billion for acquiring sophisticated weapons as part of a programme to modernize the police force.
“We must make it painful for the criminals and lawbreakers who have made our life unbearable. I want to assure you we will win this battle. We will crush the bandits,” said CS Kindiki.
Regarding the disarmament exercise, Kindiki said that the government will continue to target all illegal guns in the north and other parts of the country. He said that they will not extend the three-day grace period given to surrender all guns. He added that 43 guns and 136 rounds of ammunition, two fragmented rifle grenades and three rocket-propelled grenades had been surrendered voluntarily since the start of the operation.
Prof Kindiki promised to be the CS who finally eradicated the banditry menace once and for all. He told the senate that peace in the north is the key to the country’s economic development.
According to him, the criminal activities in the north have the potential to create a fertile ground for terrorism. He added that hundreds of police officers have lost their lives in attacks from bandits.
On his part, Turkana Senator James Lomenen spoke on porous borders in the northern region.
“How do the bandits get their ammunition? Do they get them from police, army, Uganda or do they have their own factories?” posed Lomenen.
CS Kindiki responded saying that Kenyan Security officers have already met with their Uganda counterparts and that they have since sealed all escape routes used by bandits.
This was done last week when East African Community (EAC) CS Rebecca Miano and Interior PS Raymond Omollo met with officials from Uganda in Moroto where they discussed security issues.
CS Kindiki also vowed not to spare any politician who is aiding and abetting banditry.
He said that President Ruto has said that he is willing to lose political support if it is what it takes to end the menace of banditry.
“If you fall afoul of the law, it will not matter which side of the political divide you belong to,” he said.
Nominated Senator Raphael Chimera criticized the government for its knee-jerk reactions to the security situation in the north rift region.
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