The government has ordered the reopening of schools in Kerio Valley, assuring residents, public servants, and learners of sufficient security in the troubled region.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat, speaking during a peace meeting in Chesongoch, East Marakwet, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to restoring normalcy in the area, which has been plagued by insecurity and banditry.
Lagat assured teachers, doctors, and other government officers of their safety, stating that National Police Reservists (NPRs) will be deployed to guard all schools and critical public facilities.
He issued a three-day ultimatum to residents to surrender the individuals responsible for the recent killing of Catholic priest Rev. Fr. Alloys Cheruiyot.Fr. Cheruiyot, who had served in the region for less than six months, was shot dead in a brutal attack that has sparked outrage and renewed calls for justice.
Bishop Dominic Kimengich of the Catholic Diocese of Eldoret called for unity among local leaders and communities in bringing the perpetrators to justice. “We must work together to ensure such heinous acts do not recur. Justice must prevail for Fr. Cheruiyot,” he said during the peace forum.
The peace meeting was attended by religious leaders, local residents, security officials, and governors from the region. Elgeyo-Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich and Nandi Governor Stephen Sang urged the national government to scale up efforts to combat banditry and restore lasting peace.
The leaders also cautioned against politicising security issues, emphasizing the need for unity and coordinated action to end the cycle of violence in Kerio Valley.
The directive to reopen schools is seen as a crucial step toward normalcy, with the government emphasizing that education must not be derailed by insecurity.
