Two Heroic Baringo Chiefs Help Return Two Boys-Turned Herders to School
The learners were being trained to be herders by their senior mates, and finally, they will be armed as bandits
By JOSEPH KANGOGO
'We couldn't watch their lives go into waste', two heroic pokot chiefs from Tiaty, Baringo help return back two boys (names withheld) who opted out to herd cattle and would later become bandits.
Kapunyany Location Chief Jackson Kiptesho Karenoi and Embositit Sub-location Assistant Chief Samuel Menjo Kitara returned the two JSS learners who had gone missing from school for two terms.
The chiefs responded swiftly to report about the missing students by Ngoron Comprehensive School head teacher Mr. Jackson Kibor.
"We laid a search net immediately, which took us three days to return the learners to school. They had returned to their homes and were sent to far flank areas to look after cows," Karenoi said.
At the time, in the bush, the learners were being trained to be herders by their senior mates, and finally, they will be armed as bandits since the lifestyle of local pastoralists resonates around herding and banditry.
However Tirioko Ward MCA Sam Lokales congratulated the chiefs for the bravery and going extra mile to ensure the two boys return back to school and carryon their learning process.
"I am happy the last time I saw such work was during the era of late Senior Ngoron Location Chief Mr. Joshua Yatta, may his soul rest in peace, " Lokales said.
Jackson Karenoi who was appointed recently and is just two months old in office has already visited all schools of Tirioko and issued compulsory education notice to all school-going-age children.
"Courtesy of his operation efforts, Talamoghe village raised 45 children to schoo. Now we have Talamogh ECDE, Kamokol ECDE started two weeks ago" Lokales said.
He said if the two administrators continue with these commitments, Kapunyany will be a location of benchmark on education and mindset change in Tiaty. "Congratulations, our chiefs."
The ward representative further appealed to the Ministry of Education to register more schools to JSS to reduce the distance learners cover from Morikin, Loyamoi, and Kangiruru all the way to Ngoron for learning.
"There is also need for more infrastructure and teachers in schools within Tirioko" he said. Lokales said serious shortage of teachers is experienced at Kangiruru, Embositit, Sugut, Chepkirial, and Ngoron.
"When teachers are scarce and cannot meet th
e needs of all learners, there comes a gap, and some learners will skip classes unnoticed and some desert classes and may finally drop from school" Lokales said.
He said most teachers come from neighbouring West pokot County to seek employment and immediately come with health reports to have them transferred to near their homes, leaving the learners stranded.
The MCA also noted lack of desks among serious challenges facing children in Tiaty, especially in Tirioko.
"We urge the ministry of education to consider purchasing furniture for learners for their better learning in schools," he said.
He said they are committed as county government of Baringo to ensure ECDE classes are available.
As a member of county assembly, he said they have ensured this year's budget they factored in ECDE teachers' salary increase in conformation to permanent and pensionable terms.
"This will be a milestone achievement during our tenure as county legislatures" Lokales said.
What's Your Reaction?
