North Rift: Church, Well Wishers Launch Initiative To Combat Banditry Attacks

• The Glory Outreach Assembly (GOA) church initiated an education program to combat banditry among pastoralist communities
• The church constructed Noitan Adult School in Turkana Central Constituency, offering an alternative to armed conflict
• Samson Apayo, a 47-year-old student, benefited from the initiative, stating that his education has significantly improved his life
• Bishop David Thagana of GOA emphasised the need for heavy investment in education to complement peace-building initiatives

Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

In a bid to combat perennial banditry among pastoralist communities in the country, well-wishers have begun an initiative to equip adults with modern education, an exposure they hope will shift banditry ideology to provide such community members with alternative knowledge, competence and skills needed.

The initiative to restore peace among warring communities is being spearheaded by the Glory Outreach Assembly (GOA) church, which insists that a lasting solution to the rustling menace can be achieved through enhanced socio-economic investments such as the construction of schools.

The church that prides itself in the construction of Noitan Adult School with a population of 40 students in Turkana Central Constituency seeks to find an alternative solution to armed conflicts in pastoralist communities to lure community members to meaningful economic activities for a better life.

Among the benefiting students in the church-led peacebuilding initiative is Samson Apayo, 47 who sat his KCPE exams this year and managed to post 244 marks.

Although parents still struggle to raise school fees for the enrolled students, Apayo, who is a father of five children, said the education he earned at the school has changed his life, giving him better judgement and enhancing his way of making critical decisions in life.

“I am happy I went through education despite my age and my fatherly roles. I am more informed, intelligent and equipped for the future,” said Apayo.

What will the initiative in North Rift involve

According to GOA bishop David Thagana, who is also the Federation of Evangelical and Indigenous Christian Churches of Kenya (FEICCK), the church is working with the government to address the cultural, political, social and economic challenges that have escalated the conflict.

Thagana, who began construction of schools in pastoralist communities in 2004, noted that peace-building initiatives should be complemented by heavy investment in the education infrastructure in such regions.

“We asked the community members what we can do for them to change the face of the area and the residents requested us to build them a school. We built an adult school where students are now sitting KCPE exams. It is very hard to combat rustling without offering education to the affected communities. We are happy that we have taken the initiative to become the change that is needed,” said Thagana.

Recurring conflicts such as cattle rustling have often disrupted learning and adversely affected school systems in various parts of the country.

Kindiki issues shoot-to-kill order

On Friday, September 22, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki issued a shoot-to-kill order against criminals who target security officers or camps.

"In the fight against banditry and livestock theft, the multi-agency security officers will target individual criminals," Kindiki said.

Taking to his X account, the Interior CS maintained that the government would not profile or criminalise any community.

"Security officers must work with law-abiding citizens to identify the few criminal elements who terrorise innocent residents, impoverish them economically, and taint the image of an entire community," he added.