NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 1- Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki on Wednesday revealed that one bandit in the North Rift region had taken over a school and literally made it his home.
While appearing before the Senate Security and Cohesion Committee to shed more light on the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) operations in the North and the progress made, Kindiki said fourteen schools have so far been opened.
He promised that even those who have taken over schools and paralyzed learning activities will be mopped out.
“One of the schools was taken over by bandits and the classrooms became the home of the bandits. Class Eight, became the bedroom of the head of the family, Class Seven became the bedroom of the first wife, Class Six became the bedroom of the second wife and Class Five became the bedroom of the firstborn,” CS Kindiki said.
“There is no greater level of impunity and lawlessness. The president has directed, and we have taken the directive that even the remaining schools must be reopened.”
The CS announced that the remaining schools will be opened as soon as those destroyed are rebuilt, and security having been fully restored.
“We will do whatever it takes to defeat terror and ensure all the schools are reopened. So far, we have reopened a total of 14 schools, and this is not just a media story, I know the schools by names because I have been physically there,” Kindiki said.
Some schools were completely burned down and the ministry of Interior is working closely with the Ministry of Education to construct new ones.
Bandits and cattle rustlers have in the recent weeks wreaked havoc in the North Rift region leading to loss of lives, loss of livestock and displacement of people with the counties of Baringo, Samburu, Turkana and Elgeyo Marakwet being the most affected.
Earlier during the meeting, the CS termed cattle rustlers as terrorists.
“It’s no longer cattle rustling but terrorism. Politicians are in the middle of this game,” he stated.
He asserted that security troops will remain in the war-torn Northern Kenya on a permanent basis to ensure economic prosperity in the region.
The CS stated that he is confident President William Ruto’s administration will silence banditry in the prone areas.
The Interior boss told Senators that the disarmament is yet to begin despite the amnesty period having ended.
