KDF builds 11 schools in Laikipia North in push to boost education, security

Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya commissioned Mouwakar Primary School on Friday, November 13, 2026, one of the 11 institutions built by the military following a directive by President William Ruto.

The school comprises seven classrooms and an administration block, providing additional learning facilities for children in an area where access to essential public services has remained a challenge.

Speaking during the commissioning, Tuya said the projects followed requests by local leaders, prompting the President to direct the Ministry of Defence to mobilise KDF personnel to construct schools in the constituency.

She said the initiative reflected the government's commitment to ensuring communities in underserved areas benefit from development programmes and infrastructure available in other parts of the country.

Tuya linked the investment in education infrastructure to broader efforts to restore security and promote peaceful coexistence among communities in Laikipia North.

“We have no time to chase after bandits,” she said, arguing that improved security should allow residents to concentrate on education, businesses and other economic activities.

The Cabinet Secretary said the Ministry of Defence was working with the Ministry of Interior through multi-agency security operations to address insecurity in the region.

She noted that lasting peace would enable residents to access markets, establish businesses and take their children to school without disruptions.

Tuya also urged communities to reject ethnic divisions, saying government development initiatives were intended to benefit all residents regardless of their backgrounds.

“The things we will be pursuing are building markets for women. Instead of chasing bandits, we want roads,” she said.

Laikipia North MP Sarah Korere was credited with lobbying for the projects after presenting the constituency's development needs to President Ruto.

Principal Secretary for Defence Patrick Mariru commended the legislator for pursuing development initiatives aimed at improving living conditions in the constituency.

Korere welcomed the construction of the schools and urged parents to enrol their children and ensure they remain in class, saying education was critical to securing a better future for the region.

She noted that some children in pastoralist communities were still involved in livestock herding, a situation that could interfere with their education.

Residents also welcomed the new facilities, saying the investment would improve learning conditions and expand access to education for children in remote parts of Laikipia North.

The construction of the 11 schools forms part of wider government efforts to address infrastructure gaps in the region while complementing ongoing security operations aimed at creating a more stable environment for development.