This archive report was first published on 22 August 2020.
On April 18, 2020, a devastating landslide struck Liter Girls Secondary School in Elgeyo Marakwet, claiming the lives of at least 30 people and leaving 23 bodies unrecovered.
The school, which had 200 students, was buried under debris, with sections of it washed away. The estimated loss of property was Sh200 million, including land, infrastructure, student and staff properties, and a bus.
Fortunately, no one was present at the school during the disaster. However, the school administrators, teachers, and parents are determined to return to normalcy by January 2021, when learning is expected to resume nationwide.
On Thursday, the Marakwet East Constituency community, led by Paramount Chief Samuel Rotto, donated 15 acres of land for the construction of a new Liter Girls Secondary School. The Ministry of Education has pledged to construct new structures, including classrooms, an administration block, and a library.
Paramount Chief Rotto stated that the community would not seek compensation for the land, emphasizing the school's importance to the area. He noted that over 20 families donated the land, located nearly two kilometers from the original site.
‘Our greatest joy is to have the school back. The school was a symbol of unity and peace between the Marakwet and Pokot communities. All our children had been enrolled there. As a community, we have decided to give out the land for free,’ Rotto said.
Eldest Jacob Robot urged the government to expedite the rebuilding of the school, stating, ‘We will not allow Liter Girls Secondary School students to transfer to other schools. This is an important institution for us, and we will not let it go.’
Principal Hellen Kimutai announced that makeshift classrooms and offices would be constructed ahead of the January reopening. The Elgeyo Marakwet County government donated Sh2 million for fencing, which would start immediately.
Kimutai expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Education, county government, and Kenyans who sympathized with the school after the tragedy. She emphasized that the donated land was on a raised ground, making it safer.
The Ministry of Education Director for Secondary Schools Infrastructure, Paul Kibet, assured the community that infrastructure money had been allocated for the rebuilding. He stated that the ministry would work with the Marakwet East National Government Constituency Development Fund to restore normalcy in the school.
Elgeyo Marakwet County Commissioner Ahmed Omar confirmed that the donated land had been approved by Nema and was not susceptible to flooding and landslides. He requested the Education ministry to seek the services of the National Youth Service to speed up the reconstruction.
‘We have asked Kenya Power to connect electricity to the school as soon as construction is completed. We assure parents that construction is starting soon,’ Omar said.
