Over 5,000 students have not reported to school for first term for fear of attacks by bandits along the border of West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet counties in Kenya, the standardmedia reported.

Two weeks after schools opened, eight schools and early childhood education centres in Chesogon Division, Pokot Central Sub-county still remain closed, following the insecurity.

Some of the affected schools include Cheptulel Girls, Cheptulel Boys, Arpollo, Sapulmoi, Chesogon, Tirap and Charatak primary schools.

Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) West Pokot branch executive secretary, Martin Sembelo, said about 20,000 people, including vulnerable women and children on the insecurity-prone border, have been displaced, following the banditry attacks that had been going on for months.

Speaking to the press in Kapenguria, Mr Sembelo said residents were affected by starvation and most of them were living in caves and bushes while others had migrated from the region altogether.

He urged Rift Valley Provincial co-ordinator Wanyama Musiambo to provide security to the schools so that they can reopen. “More Kenya Police Reservists (KPRs) need to be recruited to man schools and maintain security,” said Sembelo.

He urged education stakeholders to join the peace process and ensure normalcy returns in the region.