Blinded but unbowed: Baringo teacher steers change decades after surviving bandit attack

A bullet passed through Kibet’s right and left eyes, rendering him blind. 

A young boy then, Kibet was herding his father's livestock in Kagir area of Baringo North, when the bandits attacked him. 

The event of over four decades ago is still fresh in his head, owing to the permanent blindness and the dark glasses he dons to conceal his eye sockets. 

Kibet recalls how his father wanted to spear him dead after he become a burden. He spent many months in the hospital after being rescued by her mother having gotten an advance plan of his father. 

And after healing, he was taken to Thika School for the Blind and later graduated from Ergerton University to become a teacher.

Thomas rose through ranks to become the Headteacher of Kagir primary school, where he opted to help the children, as many non-local teachers feared being posted in the school over constant attacks. 

As other teachers fled the institution Kibet and a few of the staff were brave to stay. He became a beacon of hope to learners in the area, who would otherwise have dropped out of school.

Kagir primary was the top school in Baringo North in last year’s KCSE, where it produced a candidate with 411marks. This is despite it being in an area where most families are victims of banditry, either killed or left with permanent scar.

Kibet, a CRE teacher uses braille, and has bonded with the pupils, whom he recognizes by their names and voices. 

He says he is committed to making a difference in the lives of Baringo children, who would later change the society. 

He takes pride in the 189 pupils who returned to the school after a partial closure due to bandit attacks. 

However, Kibet is saddened that some of his students fail to progress in their education for lack of school fees, or early marriages. 

His prayer is to see candidates excelling and has called on leaders and well-wishers to help him get the latest syllabus of Braille.