Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of National Government Fred Matiang'i has responded about the attack that took place in the banditry prone Kerio Valley after three buses carrying students were ambushed by armed criminals, and a driver shot dead on Thursday evening.
While singling out Tot Day Secondary School, Matiang'i says the attack was avoidable if the school principal adhered to government policies adding that the principal will be arrested and prosecuted.
"The attack we had on the school bus in Tot last night ought not to have happened in the first place because that school was in violation of government policy of moving children beyond 6 O'clock at night. The attack took place at 10:30 pm," he said in a video.
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"I agree with the Inspector General of Police ( Hillary Mutyambai) that we will arrest that principal and he has to be prosecuted for violating public policy," he added.
The buses which were carrying students of Tot, Kerio Valley and Mogil Secondary schools were attacked by gun welding bandits at Chesuman near Arror in Elgeyo-Marakwet County leaving the driver dead and several pupils and teachers with gunshot wounds.
Two students and two teachers who were critically injured are currently admitted at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH ), Eldoret.
By this morning, the students and teachers had been operated on and were in stable condition.
The body of the driver was moved to Tot Sub-County mortuary as police in the area begin a manhunt for the bandits who are said to have fled towards the neighbouring Tiaty sub-county.
Elgeyo-Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen and Governor Alex Tolgos condemned the Thursday evening attack and called on security personnel in the area to track down and apprehend bandits wreaking havoc in the region.
“It is painful that the bandits no longer even spare innocent school children. This is unprecedented and shows that these bandits are merciless murderers,” Governor Tolgos said.
Senator Murkomen wondered why National Police Reservists (NPRs) have not been reinstated in the area as promised by Matiang’i when he met leaders from the region in Nakuru a fortnight ago.
“For how long will we witness the killing of our people for the government to act?. This madness should come to an end,” Senator Murkomen said.
