This archive report was first published on 22 August 2020.
On April 18, 2020, a devastating mudslide struck Liter Girls Secondary School in Elgeyo Marakwet, killing at least 30 people and leaving 23 bodies unrecovered.
The school, which had 200 students, suffered significant damage, with property worth Sh200 million lost in the disaster.
Fortunately, no one was present at the school during the disaster, and the community is now working towards rebuilding the institution.
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 said the community would not seek compensation for the land, noting that the school was crucial to the area's unity and peace.
He added, “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.”
Elgeyo Marakwet County Commissioner Ahmed Omar said the donated land had been approved by Nema and was therefore not susceptible to flooding and landslides.
He assured parents that construction would start soon, with the county administration requesting the Education ministry to seek the services of the National Youth Service to speed up the reconstruction.
