From sports fields to classrooms: Multi-sector efforts aim to secure Kerio

For decades, Kerio Valley region has been associated with insecurity, cattle rustling, and banditry that have disrupted livelihoods and education across parts of the North Rift.

Tusker rally past Ulinzi to reach FKF Cup semifinals as Nairobi United bow out Football

Red hot Omanyala to orchestrate Kenya's 4x100m charge at World Relays today Athletics

Communities in counties such as West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, and Turkana have repeatedly endured cycles of violence that have forced school closures, displaced families and strained security resources.

But alongside the security operations that have dominated headlines over the years, a quieter shift is emerging—one that combines enforcement with youth engagement, education and community development.

At the centre of that effort is Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, whose recent engagement with communities in the Kerio Valley has brought together leaders, educators and private sector actors to discuss the role of education and opportunity in stabilising the region.

While security remains a central priority for the government, Murkomen has increasingly spoken about the need for broader interventions that address the social and economic conditions that have historically fuelled insecurity in banditry-prone areas.

A region long affected by insecurity

Kerio Valley sits along a vast and often difficult terrain stretching across several counties in the North Rift. For years, the area has been among the regions most affected by cattle rustling and armed banditry.

According to reports by The Standard Media Group and Nation Media Group, attacks in the region have in the past led to deaths, displacement of families and disruption of essential services, including education.

Schools in some parts of the valley have previously been forced to close as teachers fled for safety or parents withdrew their children due to insecurity. In several instances reported by local media, learning institutions remained shut for months at a time, disrupting academic calendars and limiting opportunities for young people.

Government security operations have intensified over the past two years in a bid to restore stability. Authorities have deployed specialised security units and expanded coordinated operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks behind banditry.

Officials say these efforts have helped restore relative calm in several affected areas, allowing schools to reopen and normal economic activity to gradually resume.

Sports as an early entry point

Long before assuming leadership of the country’s security docket, Murkomen had begun exploring ways to engage young people in the region.

While serving in government in previous roles, he sponsored friendly football tournaments for both men and women across counties within the Kerio Valley corridor—among them West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo and parts of northern Turkana.

The tournaments drew hundreds of young people and turned local football grounds into spaces for community interaction.

Beyond the sporting aspect, the competitions offered cash prizes that organisers hoped would provide modest economic incentives while steering young people away from criminal activities.

The initiative reflected a broader idea increasingly discussed by policy experts—that tackling insecurity requires more than enforcement alone.

Youth engagement programmes, education opportunities and economic alternatives are often cited by development experts as key components in addressing the root causes of conflict in marginalised regions.

Murkomen’s involvement in sports-driven youth initiatives later intersected with his work in the government’s sports docket before he was appointed to lead the Interior and National Administration ministry.

Today, the ministry is responsible for overseeing national security operations, including those targeting banditry in the North Rift.

Signs of gradual stability

Security agencies say coordinated operations have begun restoring stability in several parts of Kerio Valley.

In areas where insecurity had previously forced schools to close, learning institutions have reopened and teachers have gradually returned. Local businesses and farming activities that had been disrupted by violence are also beginning to recover.

Residents interviewed by local media in recent months have reported improved security in some areas, although concerns remain in pockets where sporadic attacks still occur.

The government maintains that restoring long-term stability will require a broader development strategy beyond security operations.

Murkomen has repeatedly emphasised that addressing insecurity requires collaboration across sectors including education, infrastructure and economic development.

Education takes centre stage

That approach was evident last Friday when Murkomen convened the inaugural Elgeyo Marakwet Elimu Conference, a forum focused on improving education outcomes in the county and the wider Kerio Valley region.

The conference was held at the Lorna Kiplagat Sports Academy and brought together more than 2,500 education stakeholders, including teachers, administrators, policymakers and community leaders.

The meeting sought to examine ways of strengthening education systems in the region and expanding opportunities for young people.

Among those present were Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba, Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang, National Treasury Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo and Education Principal Secretary Sarah Muoria.

Local leaders also attended, including Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich.

The governor welcomed the initiative and highlighted the county government’s commitment to supporting education.

“This conference is a game changer for education in our county. As a county government, we remain committed to supporting needy students through scholarships and bursaries while continuing to enhance infrastructure in our schools to create a conducive learning environment,” Governor Rotich said.

Focus on practical reforms

The forum, themed “Collaborative Education for the Betterment of Society,” focused on practical interventions aimed at strengthening learning outcomes.

Stakeholders discussed ways to increase student enrolment, improve academic performance and strengthen transition rates from primary to secondary school and from secondary school to higher education.

Participants also examined the need to enhance institutional capacity through improved infrastructure and adequate staffing.

Education experts have long warned that parts of the North Rift face unique education challenges linked to insecurity, poverty and limited access to learning facilities.

National education data cited by Kenyan media indicates that transition rates in some marginalised areas lag behind national averages, particularly where insecurity disrupts schooling.

Addressing social challenges in schools

Participants at the conference also discussed social challenges affecting learners.

Among the concerns raised were alcohol and drug abuse within school environments and the growing availability of illicit substances near learning institutions.

One of the proposals discussed was stricter enforcement of the 300-metre rule, which prohibits the establishment of alcohol outlets near schools.

Education stakeholders argued that enforcing the regulation more strictly could help create safer environments for students.

The issue has previously been raised by education officials and community leaders in several counties where unregulated alcohol outlets have been linked to student indiscipline and school dropouts.

Private sector joins the effort

The conference also drew support from the private sector, which participants said could play an important role in supporting both security and education in the region.

Representatives from Safaricom said the telecommunications firm would continue strengthening network connectivity in Kerio Valley and neighbouring counties.

“Reliable communication infrastructure is critical for effective security coordination. Safaricom remains committed to boosting network coverage in the region to support security operations while also expanding connectivity to schools to enhance ICT learning for students,” a County representative from the company noted.

Financial institutions also pledged to continue supporting education through scholarships and mentorship programmes targeting students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Leaders from KCB Bank Kenya, Equity Bank Kenya and Sidian Bank reaffirmed their commitment to education sponsorship initiatives.

“Education remains one of the most powerful tools for transforming communities. As financial institutions, we will continue supporting scholarships and mentorship programmes to ensure that bright students from vulnerable backgrounds are able to pursue their education and realise their full potential,” the institutions said in a joint commitment.

Leadership and community responsibility

For Murkomen, the conference highlighted what he described as the responsibility leaders have to invest in their communities.

“We have a responsibility, as leaders, to give back to the communities that nurtured us by championing development initiatives that uplift lives, expand opportunities and inspire hope for future generations,” he noted.

A long-term approach

Observers say initiatives that combine security, education and economic empowerment could play a role in addressing the deeper causes of instability in regions such as Kerio Valley.

Analysts have previously told Kenyan media that young people in marginalised areas are often vulnerable to recruitment into criminal networks due to limited economic opportunities.

Expanding access to education and employment opportunities, they argue, could help reduce those risks over time.

The Elgeyo Marakwet Elimu Conference reflects a growing recognition that long-term stability in historically insecure regions may require integrated approaches that extend beyond policing.

In the Kerio Valley, where football tournaments once served as rallying points for youth engagement, the conversation is now increasingly shifting toward classrooms, scholarships and institutions that many hope will shape the future of the next generation.