To promote peace in the North Rift Valley region, the government is setting up peace schools.
The move, according to Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki will help bring children from different communities who have been affected by banditry
"We are constructing peace schools in North Rift Valley Counties where children from different communities can learn and live together," he said in Elgeyo Marakwet
"That way, we will be creating a new generation that is not poisoned by negative things like banditry and livestock rustling."
The CS noted that as a government, they believe that no child is born a bandit.
"No child is born a criminal. They are taught these evil habits as they grow up, " Kindiki added.
The Interior boss explained that it was possible to unteach the children from the retrogressive culture of death and livestock rustling.
This, Kindiki said, will be done by inculcating the right values, and imparting the children with education and other technical skills that will make them useful members of our society.
In addition to that, the Interior CS said the ministry is adding more personnel to address banditry in the North Rift and Eastern region.
Kindiki said for the State to ruthlessly pursue the livestock rustlers, they are deploying the same measures which were deployed to tackle terrorism.
"We are bringing in special forces to help us deal with the hardcore commanders of banditry," he said.
"There is no difference between bandits and terrorists. Their ideology is the same and they must be shown no mercy."
Parents and guardians in the North Rift region have been urged to keep their children off criminal activities like banditry.
Kindiki had earlier appealed to the parents to keep their children in school as anyone involved in banditry would not be spared.
"Parents don't put your children in harm's way, by encouraging them to engage in banditry. The business of livestock theft is unsustainable. Any person who attacks our security officers is violating the sovereignty of our Nation and we shall not allow such acts," he said.
The government through the Interior Ministry rehabilitated nine schools in West Pokot; Cheptulel Boys Secondary School, Chesegon, Cheptulel, Sapulmoi, Lonyangalem, Kour, Songok and Karon Primary Schools and Kisaa ECD School.
