KFS Commits to Rebuilding Loramoru Primary School Outside Mukutani Forest in Baringo

Baringo County Forest Conservator Ann Nyaoke addressed the press to clarify the position on Loramoru Primary School in Mukutani, Baringo County. She stated that no construction is permitted within gazetted forest land, but the Kenya Forest Service is collaborating with education authorities and local residents to find an alternative location outside the forest or along its boundary. Once a site is identified, KFS will assist in rebuilding the school to match its previous setup, including three classrooms for the learners.

The school, located in Mukutani Ward, Baringo South Sub-County, serves a community that returned after fleeing insecurity over 13 years ago. It reopened in 2024 following the resettlement of families displaced by conflict in the region. Semi-permanent classrooms were in use until recent demolition by suspected KFS officers, leaving pupils to study under trees amid harsh weather, dust, and disruptions.

The demolition stemmed from the school's placement within Mukutani Forest, a protected area under KFS management. Nyaoke maintained that the institution sits on gazetted forest land, making reconstruction at the current spot impossible. The standoff has disrupted learning for dozens of pupils, with teachers reporting exposure to sun, rain, and inadequate facilities as schools reopened for the term.

KFS has pledged immediate action once a suitable site is secured. The agency will help ensure a safe and legal learning environment. This involves working with the Ministry of Education, county officials, and community leaders to agree on land outside protected boundaries. The move aims to balance conservation priorities with the right to education in a remote area where access to schooling remains limited.

Mukutani Forest forms part of Baringo's woodland cover, critical for watershed protection in the arid and semi-arid lands of the Rift Valley. The county has faced ongoing tensions between conservation efforts and human settlement, particularly in areas affected by past banditry and resource conflicts. KFS has enforced evictions and demolitions in similar cases to curb encroachment, though such actions often spark community backlash.

Loramoru Primary's pupils, mostly from pastoralist families, depend on the school for basic education. With classes now held outdoors, concerns have risen over child safety, attendance, and academic progress. Community members have voiced frustration, arguing that the school predates strict forest gazettement or serves essential needs in an underserved location.

Broader efforts in Baringo include forest restoration programmes under national tree-planting initiatives. KFS has planted millions of seedlings in the county to combat deforestation from charcoal burning, grazing, and settlement. At the same time, the government pushes for inclusive development in frontier areas, including mobile schools or relocation support for displaced learners.

The pledge from Nyaoke follows public outcry and media coverage of pupils learning under trees. It signals a path forward through dialogue rather than continued impasse. Education stakeholders in Baringo South have welcomed the commitment, though they seek swift identification of land to avoid prolonged disruption.

No specific timeline for site selection or construction start was provided in the statement. KFS emphasised adherence to forest laws while supporting community needs. The case highlights recurring challenges in Kenya's rural education landscape, where infrastructure often intersects with environmental protection.

In similar instances elsewhere, such as schools near national parks or reserves, relocations have involved land swaps or boundary adjustments. For Loramoru, the outcome could set a precedent for handling education facilities on contested forest edges in Baringo and other counties.