NEHEMA INSTITUTE VENTURES INTO THE VOLATILE KERIO VALLEY THAT HAS BEEN SHUNNED BY OTHER PRIVATE AND PUBLIC COLLEGES DUE TO DEADLY BANDITRY AND CATTLE RUSTLING RAIDS
Kerio Valley region has been in the limelight for decades, all for the wrong reasons attributed to frequent incidents of vicious cattle rustling and banditry raids among the warring communities sharing the
common border of the volatile region.
The vast region has been rocked by insecurity over water and pasture borders West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet and Baringo counties in the North Rift region.
At least 2,000 lives have been lost in the past two years following the banditry and cattle rustling attacks pitting the members of the Pokots against Marakwets and Tugens.
In a bid to address these perennial insecurity challenges that have bedeviled the volatile region, a private learning institution, Nehema Institute of Science and Technology has set up a campus in Marigat
town, Baringo County to provide education to youths in the region to empower the targeted vulnerable groups.
About 200 students from the volatile region have so far graduated from the Nehema Institute of Science and Technology after undertaking various artisans’ courses that include Hairdressing, Barbering,
Agriculture, Food, and Beverage among others.
The graduation ceremony was presided over by the Director of the institution Dr. Joseph Chepkwony and Baringo South Member of Parliament Charles Kamuren implored upon the graduates to open up their minds and hearts for the jobs available in other parts of the country to get exposure away from home.
“We want you to use the skills and knowledge acquired for self-empowerment and help change this community, we want you to help bring change and have a community where everyone understands the
importance of peace” said Chepkwony.
While congratulating the graduates, the two-term MP assured them of support to enable them to continue with their education at higher levels as he urged them to encourage more youths to embrace education
for change.
“Let’s work together to bring the desired change in our society and ensure that we end the challenges of poverty, illiteracy, and banditry that has hampered the implementation of social and economic development by
the national and county governments. We are tired of witnessing the loss of innocent lives and property in the hands of armed bandits and I would like to thank Nehema Institute for the initiative that has
continued to see our young people get skills for empowerment,” noted area MP Kamuren.
Kamuren lauded the institute for its bold move to establish a campus in the region and besides, deploy teaching and non-teaching staff despite other leading institutions giving the area-wide berth.
The Director of the institution said they have sponsored more than one
hundred bright students from needy backgrounds in the area since the the institution was established and many have become self-employed and others have gotten jobs in various devolved units and the private
sector across the country.
Dr. Chepkwony however, asked parents, leaders, and society in the region to encourage and support students willing to go to school for
posterity.
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