Heavily Armed Soldiers Take Over Schools

KDF soldiers had to intervene after terrorist elements scared teachers away from parts of Northern Kenya. 

Tutors left en-masse following the terror attacks that laid claim to border towns in December 2019 spilling over to January and February 2020. 

The Al-Shabaab group, linked to the attacks that ignited fear in the regions made the teachers flee for their lives. 

Yet the gap that was left by the departing teaching staff had to be filled and in a surprising turn of events, the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) laid down their arms to pick up chalk.

Military officer pictured taking pupils through their lessons, picture undated.

As per a report authored by Daily Nation on February 21, 2020, Konton and Qarsa Primary Schools have benefitted from the unusual arrangement.

Both schools were operating at a great handicap after non-local teachers made their exodus. 

Konton Primary School, for instance, only had the headteacher as all the other teachers fled. 

Noor Bardad, secretary of Wajir County Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) applauded the deployment of the defence forces in the area, stating that it had also enhanced security.

“I want to thank our KDF officers who are currently helping teach our children in Qarsa and Konton schools and also providing security which has given a conducive environment for children to learn," said the KNUT secretary.

The unprecedented change of role by the KDF was necessary after the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) began transferring teachers in mid-January 2020. 

The move followed a series of attacks that targetted schools, for instance, the Monday 13, 2020 pre-dawn raid in Kamuthe Garissa in which all the male teachers were summarily executed.

Wajir, which has historically borne the brunt of terrorist attacks, saw the worst crippling of its education sector in 2018.

Then, Al-Shabaab militants attacked Qarsa Primary School killing three people, two of whom were teachers. 

A military officer taking students through their lessons.

Jamii Forums

The move followed a series of attacks that targetted schools, for instance, the Monday 13, 2020 pre-dawn raid in Kamuthe Garissa in which all the male teachers were summarily executed.

Wajir, which has historically borne the brunt of terrorist attacks, saw the worst crippling of its education sector in 2018.

Then, Al-Shabaab militants attacked Qarsa Primary School killing three people, two of whom were teachers.