Govt to rebuild schools destroyed by bandits in Turkana, West Pokot

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen arriving for a security meeting at Kambi Samaki in Baringo County on May 2,2025 . The meeting brought together top security officials from the Rift Valley region and sub-county teams from Marigat, Baringo North, Mukutani, Tiaty Central, and Tiaty East. [Kipsang Joseph/Standard]

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has revealed that the government plans to reopen schools closed in West Pokot and Turkana due to banditry.

He said four to five schools will be rebuilt in this financial year. The CS said money was allocated for a project whose construction will be led by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).

Speaking during a security briefing in Lodwar, Murkomen also revealed that the National Police Reservists will be reformed to enhance their accountability.

He acknowledged logistical challenges that security teams face, including fuel shortages, and called for more operational vehicles and allowances for officers.

Local leaders, including Loima MP Protus Akuja, highlighted the inadequate police presence in Turkana, which has only 681 officers for a vast area.

They stressed the need for more police reservists to address persistent threats, especially near the Kenya-Ethiopia border.

CS Murkomen announced a multi-agency security operation for volatile border zones and noted that residents are concerned about compensation for victims of bandit attacks and poor communication infrastructure hindering response times.

The government is also reviewing the curfew in Turkana, adjusting it based on improved security. Business owners are urging for a complete lift of the curfew, as it hampers their operations, particularly along the Kainuk–Lokichar–Kitale Road, which is vital for local trade.