Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has assured teachers of their safety in all parts of the country, including in areas facing security challenges.

While addressing the Kenya National Union of Teachers Union (Knut) annual National Delegates Conference at Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi, on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Gachagua said adequate security measures have been put in place to ensure teachers go on with their work in volatile areas without fear for their lives. 

“We have taken enough measures to ensure that the teachers are secure and there is enough security for them. A lot of work is going on in those regions to make sure that teachers and everybody and the rest of the country is secure,” said the Deputy President.

The Deputy President also said that the government had stopped the sacking of teachers, who fled from their working stations over insecurity in Northern Kenya. 

“You cannot punish people who are running away to save their lives,” he said.

He said Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Prof Kithure Kindiki was seized of the matter and would ensure the measures are fully implemented.

“The National Police Service and all our security agencies are doing whatever needs to be done so that our teachers and the rest of Kenyans are secure,” noted the Deputy President.

He continued, “We are undertaking a disarmament exercise to rid these areas of criminals. We also understand the value of education in sustainably addressing banditry and other forms of security threats, as we progressively move communities from past retrogressive practices.”

He stated that security in the North Rift and areas prone to terrorism are on the government’s radar and it will not relent until peace is restored.