Two months later after President William Ruto — while in Tot in Elgeiyo Marakwet County — ordered the immediate reopening of schools that were not in service and promising to support those affected by banditry resettle in their homes, nothing has been done.

TV47 has established that those who were affected by banditry in parts of Chesegon, Cheptulel, Arpollo among other villages are yet to return home and are yet to receive any communication from the relevannt authorities even after President Ruto’s directive.

While documenting this story, our team spoke to Isaac Tingatinga, a victim who is now living in Lomut after his family was ambushed by bandits forcing them to escape and seek refuge elsewhere.

“We want to sincerely ask President Ruto to move with speed and fulfill his promise to us, we have school going children whose education journey was almost cut short, adapting in a new environment is hard for us, we need to go back home, however the tension is stills very high in the area, last week a business man and a national police reservist at Arpollo trading center was badly attacked and killed on spot by bandits,” said Tingatinga.

Vincent Komole, another local, says the area is hostile and bandits are yet to abandon their mission urging President Ruto to send relief food and construction materials as soon as possible to help in construction.

While some schools, including Chesegon Primary, Cheptulel Boys Secondary, Litei ECDE, and Sampoloi Moi Primary, have been closed and some partially reopened, they are operating under precarious conditions. Cheptulel Boys Secondary which migrated its students to Surumben Primary School, for instance, has only 13 students in attendance as parents remain fearful of further attacks.

A recent wave of attacks has devastated communities, with bandits wreaking havoc, destroying property, and stealing livestock. Several schools in the area have closed indefinitely, as teachers and students flee for safety.

While visiting the banditry-prone area of Chesegon a month ago, Beatrice Askul, the Cabinet Secretary for ASAL (Arid and Semi-Arid Lands), pledged the government’s commitment to resettle families displaced by insecurity. She also assured residents that they would receive food and long-term support to rebuild their lives.