An armed man takes care of is cattle at a water point in West Pokot. [Photo/irinnews.org]
Close to seven thousand pupils have been sent home in West Pokot over insecurity emanating from cattle banditry.
Kenya National Union of Teachers West Pokot branch executive secretary Martin Sembelo said many students and pupils have been affected calling on the Education and Interior ministries to intervene and end insecurity.
Sembelo also said on Wednesday about 20,000 people, including vulnerable women and children have been displaced, following the banditry attacks that have been going on for months.
He said residents as well as pupils and students are affected by starvation following the raids and most of those affected are living in caves and bushes while others have migrated from the region adding that more Kenya Police Reservists need to be recruited to man schools and maintain security.
West Pokot is among counties that experienced low students turn out when schools re-opened due to insecurity.
Authorities in the county, however, said government is doing all it can to restore normalcy within the shortest time possible.
Pokot Central Deputy County Commissioner Geoffrey Kithinji, according to the Standard said although schools have re-opened students numbers in most schools were still low.