Hundreds of families in banditry prone areas of Cheptulel and Chepkogogh locations which had been displaced by bandits for years in Pokot Central Sub-County, West Pokot along the West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet counties border have finally been supported and handed over 1400 iron sheets to support their resettlement. 

Through the County Government of West Pokot, the Directorate of Peace Building and Conflict Management, these families have a reason to smile due to restoration of normalcy as all affected residents will rebuild their lives in safety, dignity and hope.

For years now, Villages of Cheptulel and Chesegon along the West Pokot-Elgeyo Marakwet counties have remained on edge as banditry continues to disrupt lives and livelihoods, paralysing learning activities and forcing the closure of more than 10 schools and the displacement of 795 families.

A recent wave of attacks has devastated communities, with bandits wreaking havoc, destroying property, and stealing livestock. Several schools in the area, have closed indefinitely, as teachers and students flee for safety.

While some schools, including Chesegon Primary, Cheptulel Boys Secondary, Litei ECDE, and Sampoloi Moi Primary, have been closed and some partially reopened, they are operating under precarious conditions. Cheptulel Boys Secondary which migrated its students to Surumben primary school, for instance, has only 13 students in attendance as parents remain fearful of further attacks.

The  violence has left hundreds of children out of school, with residents appealing for urgent government intervention to restore peace and stability in the region.

In 2025 While visiting the area in the company of CS for Special programmes Beatrice Askul to assess the situation, Sigor Member of Parliament Peter Lochakapong urged government through the Ministries of special programmes, Ministry of Interior and National Coordination and the Ministry of Education to move with speed and restore peace in the region by reopening the affected learning institutions and offering foodstuffs to displaced families for a period of not less than two years.

 Special programmes cabinet secretary Beatrice Askul also pledged the government’s commitment to resettle families displaced by insecurity, assuring residents that they would receive food and long-term support to rebuild their lives.

“Even if we carry out projects, without peace, it’s all a waste,” she stated. “We have spent significant funds on beefing up security instead of channeling those resources into development projects,” Said Askul.

The resettlement program is being carried out by the county government of West Pokot,  through the Directorate of Peace Building and Conflict Management.