The determination to pursue education has seen pupils in Lokwar and Nakuse areas of Turkana South return to school despite persistent insecurity in the region.
The return to classrooms comes days after four people were killed in an attack in Lokwar, allegedly carried out by suspected raiders believed to have crossed from neighboring West Pokot County.
According to Muya Simon, a teacher at Lokwar-Nakuse Primary School, enrollment at the institution has dropped sharply since insecurity escalated.
The school, which previously had more than 400 pupils, now has just over 80 learners attending classes.
The insecurity also resulted in the burning of Lokwar and Nakuse primary schools, which have yet to be repaired.
Despite the damage, pupils have continued attending lessons in the affected facilities as efforts to restore normal learning remain limited.
During a visit to the affected villages, Katilu Ward MCA William Samal Etubon called on the national government to enhance security and protect residents and schoolchildren from further attacks.
Etubon also distributed food supplies and farming inputs to residents, while urging the government to take urgent measures to restore security and facilitate the return of displaced families to their homes.
The situation has left education and livelihoods in the affected communities disrupted, with residents calling for improved security to enable children to learn safely and families to resume normal activities.
