10 schools closed in Baringo as drought bites

Ten schools have been closed indefinitely while several others are facing closure in Tiaty, Baringo County due to the ongoing drought ravaging various parts of the country.

Schools which have been shut down paralyzing learning include Nasorot, Toplen, Naudo, Lochokia, Napukut,Kang’uria, Silale, Nakule, Lotita, Nalekat Primary Schools.

Those staring at closure include Nakoko, Riong’o, Naudo, Nalekat, Akwichatis, Chepkalacha, Chemolingot, Kositei, Katikit, Chemisik, Natan, Makany and Lotita Primary Schools.

A spot check conducted by Citizen Digital at several schools in the area on Friday, February  23 revealed that enrollment in several institutions had dropped drastically.

The students have been forced to skip school while searching for food and water 10 kilometres away from their homes.

Major rivers including Nginyang’, Akwichatis, Kositei, Kasitit, Chemsik, Kaptobokwo and Mukur, which Tiaty residents depend on for water, have all dried up triggering the sequence of events.

According to Hassan Lomunyateba, a resident, lack of food and water for their cattle has also forced the pastoralists to walk to neighbouring counties in search of pasture which has led to inter-communal conflict.

While trying to make life comfortable for their children, mothers have turned to digging holes in the ground in search of water.

On Friday, learning was disrupted  at Akwichatis Primary School in Naudo village during the afternoon hours to allow pupils to go and look for drinking water two kilometers away from the school.

Ms. Lydia Kamama, a teacher at the institution, explained that afternoon classes in the institution are normally interrupted to allow the pupils look for water.

Silale Ward Representative Nelson Lotela said services have also been grounded at health facilities in the area due to lack of water. This forcing residents to walk for more than 40 kilometers to access health services at Chemolingot Sub-County Hospital.

He said the most affected facilities include Akwichatis, Toplen , Nakoko and Riong’o dispensaries.