A brave Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officer Samuel Gitau has began teaching pupils at Kiangwe Primary School in Boni Forest during his free time.
Speaking to DW TV based in Germany, Gitau disclosed that he was moved by the zeal espoused by the school's single teacher who single-handedly juggles all classes.
"I met the teacher. I found he was being overworked. He had so many kids here to teach and I saw the burden which he holds. I have to assist him at times for the better of these kids," he explained.
He disclosed that he uses teaching experience he had gained before joining the army.
The teacher in question is Farid Kala who serves as the head teacher and sole tutor who dared return to the school located in the terror-ravaged region.
Farid revealed that other teachers declined returning to the school, which had been shut down since 2014 due to fear of Al Shabaab.
"Al Shabaab targets the government employees including myself. When you wake up okay, you thank God. Before you sleep, you also pray to God.
"I am alone at the moment. Teaching is a problem because it is so tiresome. After finishing one lesson, I go to another lesson," he explained noting that he handles as much as one class in one go.
The school handles 120 pupils most of whom have stayed home for a better part of the seven years that the school was closed before its reopening in January 2021.
Their parents noted that they could not afford to transfer the pupils to other institutions due to financial and geographical difficulties.
In January, KDF had started an ambitious programme aimed at ensuring teachers return to five schools that are regularly affected with terror activities in the forest located in Lamu County.
KDF airlifted a number of teachers to various schools at the beginning of that month but as of February, several teachers had vacated the schools leading to an acute shortage of teachers.
Among the affected schools are Bodhai-Junction, Milimani, Basuba, Mangai and Mararani. There is also one teacher serving Bodhai-Junction school.
