Officers from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) have been deployed to protect mourners at the burial of 55-year-old Thomas Kibet, who was a blind head teacher.
In videos seen by The Kenya Times, the KDF officers led a convoy that was transporting mourners and the body of Kibet to the burial site. Another KDF Landcruiser was positioned at the end of the convoy.
Also, additional officers manned the neighboring area, staying on the lookout for any suspicious activity, while others proceeded to the burial site.
Kibet who was, a 55-year-old head teacher at Kagir Primary School in Baringo North, was shot dead by gunmen on February 10.
Police said that he was on a motorcycle with his wife and a child on their way to Kipcherere Secondary School for an event, when they were ambushed by armed bandits.
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Police and KDF on the Death on the Head Teacher
Baringo Police Commander Julius Kiragu had earlier revealed that the teacher was shot in the head by the gunmen, and he died on the spot.
Later, his wife and child were found in a bush with injuries in the legs and hands.
Kiragu explained that Kibet’s children were students at the school where he was headed to. Together with his wife, they were supposed to attend an Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Additionally, police said that the motorcycle that was transporting them belonged to a police reservist (NPR), who was also the rider.
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Kibet Earlier Encounter with Bandits
That was the second time Kibet had encountered bandits.
When he was nine years old, he was shot by gunmen through his right and left eyes rendering him blind.
The incident happened while he was herding his father’s livestock in Kagir area of Baringo North. Although he spent months in hospital, he was determined to make the most out of his life.
He recovered and went to Thika school for the blind, later graduating from Egerton University to become a teacher.
Kibet rose through the ranks to become the Headteacher of Kagir primary school, where he opted to help the children even when many non-local teachers feared being posted in the area as a result of constant attacks.
Following his death, the Kenya Primary School Heads Association (KEPSHA) condemned the attack, demanding swift action from authorities.
“His remarkable courage and perseverance served as an inspiration to all who knew him. The fact that Mr Kibet, despite his disability, continued to serve as an educator speaks volumes about his passion for shaping young minds and contributing to the betterment of society,” KEPSHA chairperson Johnson Nzioka said.
