Knut and Kuppet Withdraw Teachers from Kerio Valley After Killing of Catholic Priest
Learning has ground to a halt in more than 20 schools across the restive Kerio Valley after two of Kenya’s major teachers’ unions pulled their members from the region citing worsening insecurity.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) and the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) jointly announced the decision following the brutal murder of Catholic priest Fr. Allois Cheruiyot Bett. Fr. Bett was shot dead on Thursday while returning from celebrating mass in Kakiptul.
Union leaders John Cheberi (Knut, Marakwet branch) and Paul Biwott (Kuppet, Elgeyo Marakwet County) expressed alarm over what they described as targeted attacks against non-local professionals, including teachers.
“We have decided to withdraw the teachers because of serious security concerns in the region,” Cheberi said. “Three non-local security officers have also been killed recently. It’s clear that this violence is not random.”
The killing of Fr. Bett has sent shockwaves through the community, leading to a government-imposed dusk-to-dawn curfew in several parts of Kerio Valley. The curfew, running from 6 pm to 6 am, is intended to help restore order and facilitate investigations.
Kerio Valley Sub-County Deputy County Commissioner Amonde confirmed the curfew and assured residents that security operations had been ramped up. “We are doing all it takes to regain normalcy,” he stated.
Teachers’ unions, however, say they are not willing to risk the lives of their members while the threat of targeted violence looms large.
“As Knut and Kuppet, we condemn in the strongest terms the killing of Father Bett, who was a friend to many and a pillar in our community. It is deeply disturbing that such an innocent man of God would be targeted,” said Biwott.
The unions have petitioned Cabinet Secretary for Security Kipchumba Murkomen to take swift and decisive action to dismantle bandit networks operating in the region.
“We must see tough action against these bandits who have made life unbearable for everyone in Kerio Valley,” Cheberi added.
As investigations continue, grief and anger hang heavy over the region. Teachers, residents, and leaders are united in mourning—and in demanding long-overdue solutions to the insecurity that continues to plague Kerio Valley.
For now, classrooms remain deserted, and the future of education in the region hangs in the balance.
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Knut and Kuppet Withdraw Teachers from Kerio Valley After Killing of Catholic Priest