Ensuring safety in schools has always been a top concern for teachers, parents, and education stakeholders across Kenya. For teachers in Isiolo County, where insecurity has often disrupted learning and threatened the welfare of both staff and students, a new initiative promises relief.
The Kenya Police Department, in partnership with the Regional Pastoralist Peace Link Organisation, has launched a toll-free emergency hotline (0800 722 180) and opened a joint command centre in Isiolo. This transformative programme is expected to change how schools, teachers, and the community handle insecurity and respond to emergencies.
This development comes just months after teachers raised serious safety concerns during incidents in North Eastern Kenya, which you can read about in our earlier article: North Eastern Kenya Isn’t Just a Posting, It’s a Survival Test and a Growth Journey for Every Teacher.
A Step Forward for School Safety
Teachers in Isiolo have often worked under extreme conditions, facing threats of banditry, youth radicalisation, drug trafficking, and petty crime. These challenges have in some cases led to teacher transfers, absenteeism, and school closures, creating significant learning gaps.
With this new toll-free number, teachers and community members can report emergencies anytime, at no cost. This initiative ensures that schools and educators—often the first targets in volatile situations—can quickly seek help from the authorities without worrying about airtime.
Isiolo Deputy County Commissioner Edwin Kuria explained that the new programme strengthens community policing and emergency response. For schools, this means faster intervention whenever students or teachers are under threat.
This follows similar concerns raised in other areas, as highlighted in North Eastern si Kazi ya Moyo Laini, ni Shule ya Maisha, where teachers emphasized the emotional and physical challenges of working in hardship regions.
A Hotline Dedicated to 24/7 Response
The emergency hotline 0800 722 180 will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Isiolo County Police Commander Paul Wambugu assured teachers that the command centre will be fully operational at all times.
“There will always be someone at the call centre to respond to any issues, day or night. We encourage responsible use of the service, especially for reporting criminal activities,” he said.
For schools located far from police stations, this hotline is a game changer. Teachers in remote areas can now directly connect to the police whenever they feel unsafe—whether during lessons, after school hours, or while on duty travel.
This development also aligns with the Teachers Service Commission’s ongoing reforms to improve teacher welfare and security, as discussed in TSC Recruitment Guidelines 2025: Degrees Banned.
Addressing the Unique Challenges Teachers Face
Teachers in Isiolo and other pastoralist counties have long endured unique security challenges, including bandit attacks and cattle rustling that sometimes extend into school compounds. Such insecurity endangers both learners and teachers and disrupts the academic calendar.
The new system bridges this gap by making incident reporting easier and faster. Mohamed Bare, a programme officer with the Regional Pastoralist Peace Link, explained:
“We launched this toll-free number to strengthen collaboration between local communities and the police in addressing security challenges.”
He added that problems like youth radicalisation and drug trafficking—which often spill into schools—can now be managed through timely reporting and action.
Why This Matters for Teachers and Education
| Key Benefit | Impact on Schools and Teachers |
|---|---|
| Safer Learning Environment | Teachers can teach without fear, and learners enjoy uninterrupted lessons. |
| Support for Remote Schools | Even distant schools can reach police help without cost. |
| Boosts Confidence of Parents and Teachers | Fewer transfer requests and better school attendance. |
| Alignment with the CBC Curriculum | Secure environments promote hands-on, continuous learning required by CBC. |
The hotline strengthens the ongoing efforts by both TSC and Ministry of Education to make hardship areas more habitable for teachers. Similar efforts have been made in other counties listed in TSC Hardship Areas 2025: Full List of Regions Eligible for Hardship Allowance in Kenya.
Community and Faith Leaders Welcome the Move
The initiative has received support from local leaders, including Bishop Stephen Kalunyu, Secretary of the Isiolo Interfaith group. He praised the hotline, noting that most residents could not afford airtime to call the police in emergencies.
“This hotline will save lives because many people live far from police stations. Its toll-free nature makes it accessible to everyone—especially teachers and schools in rural areas,” Bishop Kalunyu said.
Community-based groups and churches have also pledged to sensitize residents on how to use the hotline effectively to curb violence, especially around schools.
What Teachers Should Do
KenyaTeachers.com encourages all teachers in Isiolo and neighbouring counties to:
- Save the toll-free number (0800 722 180) and share it with staff and students where necessary.
- Report suspicious activity such as strangers around schools, drug trafficking, or violent behaviour among youth.
- Educate learners on community policing and personal safety as part of life skills education.
- Collaborate with BoMs and Parents Associations to ensure timely response to any reported threats.
These measures support broader teacher welfare campaigns like those featured in OUK and KNUT’s New MoU Offers Teachers Massive Fee Discount, highlighting how partnerships can improve teachers’ lives.
Looking Ahead
The launch of this hotline is a milestone for Isiolo County. It reassures teachers that their security is a national priority. By minimizing risks, it encourages educators to stay in their stations, reducing teacher turnover and strengthening the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) implementation.
However, success will depend on how responsibly the system is used and how quickly response teams act. If well managed, the Isiolo emergency hotline could become a model for other counties such as Garissa, Marsabit, and Mandera—regions with similar challenges, as discussed in JSS Crisis in Isiolo: Teachers Demand Autonomy for Interns 2025.
Conclusion
For teachers, safety is the foundation of education. Without it, quality learning cannot thrive. Isiolo’s new toll-free hotline (0800 722 180) represents hope and progress. It ensures that no teacher or learner feels abandoned in times of crisis.
KenyaTeachers.com will continue to follow this development closely and update educators across Kenya on its effectiveness, impact, and possible expansion to other regions.
