KDF troops inspect ongoing reconstruction of classrooms in North Rift

The government’s ‘Operation Maliza Uhalifu’ is quickly taking shape.

Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) on Thursday toured various schools to inspect the ongoing renovation and reconstruction of schools in the North Rift.

The team was led by the KDF Construction Engineers Brigade Commander Brigadier Joseph Mutua.

In his address to the troops at Chesitet camp, Brigadier Mutua lauded the milestones achieved in pacifying the region and affirmed more continued support.

KDF in a statement said schools visited included Kapedo Mixed Secondary in Turkana county as well as Chesitet Primary School and Kositei Primary School in Baringo County.

“The teachers and learners who spoke at their specific institutions hailed the project saying it has boosted the morale of students and created a more enabling learning environment,” the statement said.

He commended the engineer’s troops for their efforts and energy portrayed since the project started in the renovation of schools and setting up of new structures like classrooms, ablution blocks, water points, and teachers' accommodations among others.

The government in June started the reconstruction of schools that were vandalised by bandits in the North Rift.

The reconstruction followed a security operation in the county and across five other bandit-prone counties of North Rift which Kindiki previously said has succeeded in flushing out criminal elements.

Kindiki first spoke about the reconstruction on May 23 during a status update on the security situation in Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, Turkana, and West Pokot counties.

"The money has already been released and our officers from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) will help us in the reconstruction. We must make sure that this place remains out of bounds to bandits for the rest of our time," Kindiki said then.